GDT ***Playoffs Round 1 Game 5 GDT Oilers vs. Kings 4/29/25 7:00pm on KCAL, FanDuel(?), TBS, max***

[VF]

It will be interesting to see the injury report in a few days. If multiple guys aren’t playing with compound femur fractures, I’d be astounded, because that’s how it looks.

 

[Nyssa42]

So sad that that terrible game was likely Nick's last (home game) broadcast

 

[Cross Traffic]

Built for ****!

 

[johnbajuice]

I (luckily) was out tonight and missed the game. Did the crowd at least chant “Fire Hiller!” after the EN?

 

[Rog or Reg?]

I still cannot believe Byfield didn’t just chip it out. Had all the time and space and he couldn’t just chip it out.

It was over that second.

All the Kings fans I have talked to on-line and face-to-face after Sunday said the same exact thing: As soon as Byfield tried to skate the puck out and was stripped, this series was over. Done.

It was a 100% chance Edmonton would tie it up, win in OT, then absolutely smoke us at home.

We all saw this coming from a mile away.

And all Quinton had to do was chip the puck out. Game over. And for all practical puposes, the series.

But he did what may very well be the stupidest thing I have ever seen in a situation like that. He tried to play hero and gave the Oilers life. And like sharks, they smelled the blood in the water and pounced.

I'm not remotely upset. I knew this was over the moment Byfield had his brain fart. It was written in stone. Bummer because we got so close. But first Hiller gambled and lost. Then Byfield gambled and lost. Those two should avoid Vegas like the plague.

 

[CHARAzard]

Going to change up the mojo here …. and I’ll see you all for game 7 at Crypto.

Yes, 100% QB should’ve gotten that puck up and out. But the final whistle hasn’t blown on game 6 yet, so it kind of gives me a chuckle seeing all the “I knew the series was all over” from the couch.

Pro athletes don’t get to where they are by quitting. Tonight didn’t go their way but I expect a damn tooth and nail battle in game 6.

 

[Rog or Reg?]

Going to change up the mojo here …. and I’ll see you all for game 7 at Crypto.

Yes, 100% QB should’ve gotten that puck up and out. But the final whistle hasn’t blown on game 6 yet, so it kind of gives me a chuckle seeing all the “I knew the series was all over” from the couch.

Pro athletes don’t get to where they are by quitting. Tonight didn’t go their way but I expect a damn tooth and nail battle in game 6.

I certainly hope you're right. But the Kings have to play lot better than they did tonight. The final score could have easily been 6-1. It's nothing short of a miracle they were still in it after one period.

 

[CHARAzard]

I certainly hope you're right. But the Kings have to play lot better than they did tonight. The final score could have easily been 6-1. It's nothing short of a miracle they were still in it after one period.

I hope I’m right too. This Kings team has shown they can absolutely handle any team in this league when they want to. They have to do it for 60 in Edmonton in G6. Now would be a great time to see that team.

 

[WuwuKennyWu]

Didn’t even bother paying close attention tonight. Once the Oilers tied it, you just knew this team was cooked. They don’t have that extra gear in them to play from behind.

As much as it pains me, Kopitar and Doughty need to hang it up. The franchise feels stuck living in nostalgia for the cup years while still trying to make it happen for #11 and #8 at the expense of just full on rebuilding. It reminds me of the end of Thornton’s and Marleau’s careers—regular season juggernauts but complete paper tigers in the playoffs. Doughty especially has been atrocious in every playoff series against Edmonton, still trying to QB the breakout like he’s in his twenties. Just stop, dude.

This team has zero grit. Even when they try to throw hits, they end up getting knocked around. The whole roster feels like a finesse experiment gone wrong—small, light, and soft on the boards. Our defense looks like a full lineup of knockoff Kris Letangs. (Gavrikov gets a pass.)

If we lose Thursday, I don’t even know. Fire Blake and Hiller? Sure. But I’m not convinced there’s anything worth rebuilding around except maybe QB and Kempe. I actually think flipping Fiala might be a decent move since he’s upped his value this year.

And yeah—Kuemper's the MVP. Only reason we even made it this far.

 

[nocturn]

Well, I paddled out into the great flatness and had beers, so it's not my fault. They just suck apparently.

 

[ChiKingFan]

But he did what may very well be the stupidest thing I have ever seen in a situation like that. He tried to play hero and gave the Oilers life. And like sharks, they smelled the blood in the water and pounced.

Honestly, I think he wanted to shoot at the empty net, then thought about the icing that happened a minute or so before, and decided to chip it out. But in that moment of indecision, Bouchard got his stick in the way and kept it in the zone. I don't think he was trying to be a hero. I just think he got caught between two different thoughts, and that little double clutch was enough for Bouchard to make a play. He just needed to be decisive. Any decision, even icing the puck, would have been better than what he did.

 

[ChiKingFan]

This Kings team has shown they can absolutely handle any team in this league when they want to.

Problem is that "when they want to" is usually on pretty normal rest while rolling four lines and three D pairs. The 13 out of 18 guys that Hiller trusts are completely gassed.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

I believe hockey watching has now become a low priority until next October. This series is just another bad memory…

I’ve come back recently after taking a break of over 5 years. I watched the team from afar, keeping track of drafts/trades and their standings, but refused to get invested beyond that. I may take another break. There’s some great talent on this team that was wasted last night. Things changed mentally for the team. All the build up for years was destroyed last night. You could see it in the way the Kings played.

Kempe will 100% not extend after this, so the Kings will get what they can by trading him next season.

It’s time for the true rebuild. But Kopi and Doughty are hamstringing this team with their contracts. They both need to retire. They were great, but it’s over for them.

I love the Kings, but man….this is depressing. They’re literally back to square 1.

 

[McSorleyFan]

Whelp, that game 4 has given the Coilers new life. Came to LALAland and took away home ice advantage.
Now it's really a must win situation tomorrow.
Will save the speculation of changes for after the series is over (if LA loses).
LA has bounced back from a 3 game losing streak before, but playoffs are different.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

They will parrot the same thing. "Hey, we made the playoffs. We were right there!"

We WeRe OnLy a FeW bOuNcEs aWaY fRoM tEh W. -Jim Hiller probably

 

[King of Pentacle5]

Didn’t even bother paying close attention tonight. Once the Oilers tied it, you just knew this team was cooked. They don’t have that extra gear in them to play from behind.

As much as it pains me, Kopitar and Doughty need to hang it up. The franchise feels stuck living in nostalgia for the cup years while still trying to make it happen for #11 and #8 at the expense of just full on rebuilding. It reminds me of the end of Thornton’s and Marleau’s careers—regular season juggernauts but complete paper tigers in the playoffs. Doughty especially has been atrocious in every playoff series against Edmonton, still trying to QB the breakout like he’s in his twenties. Just stop, dude.

This team has zero grit. Even when they try to throw hits, they end up getting knocked around. The whole roster feels like a finesse experiment gone wrong—small, light, and soft on the boards. Our defense looks like a full lineup of knockoff Kris Letangs. (Gavrikov gets a pass.)

If we lose Thursday, I don’t even know. Fire Blake and Hiller? Sure. But I’m not convinced there’s anything worth rebuilding around except maybe QB and Kempe. I actually think flipping Fiala might be a decent move since he’s upped his value this year.

And yeah—Kuemper's the MVP. Only reason we even made it this far.

There’s no way Kempe extends in LA next season. He’s gone. I would be too if I were him.

 

[hokiecat]

Hiller is coaching every game likes it’s game seven of the Stanley Cup Final. It’s the first f***ing series. You can’t coach like that. Even if they win, they’re going to get swept in the next round.

That's pretty much what the entire TNT panel said. That and he was coaching like he had to win 2 out of 3. Usually the talking heads are kind since it's a small world and you don't want to make enemies. But they were pretty candid IMO.

 

[Rog or Reg?]

Honestly, I think he wanted to shoot at the empty net, then thought about the icing that happened a minute or so before, and decided to chip it out. But in that moment of indecision, Bouchard got his stick in the way and kept it in the zone. I don't think he was trying to be a hero. I just think he got caught between two different thoughts, and that little double clutch was enough for Bouchard to make a play. He just needed to be decisive. Any decision, even icing the puck, would have been better than what he did.

Watch the replay again: Byfield skated a considerable distance with the puck before Bouchard stripped it.

It was a horrible play,, a horrible gamble and a horrible way to end our season. He had plenty of time and plenty of space.

I think all he had in mind then was ESPN's Top 10 Plays of the Week. It was highly counter-intuitive, and I repeat, one of the stupidest plays I've ever seen in my entire life in a situation such as that. All he had to do was chip the puck out and the game's over... and in all likelihood, the series..

Coming back to LA down 3-1 is a different world than coming back 2-2 with all the momentum.

Regardless what was going on in Byfield's head, it altered the course of the postseason for both teams. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and my opinion is that was an inexcusable gamble a professional should never make. He tried to be a hero and it cost us dearly.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

Going to change up the mojo here …. and I’ll see you all for game 7 at Crypto.

Yes, 100% QB should’ve gotten that puck up and out. But the final whistle hasn’t blown on game 6 yet, so it kind of gives me a chuckle seeing all the “I knew the series was all over” from the couch.

Pro athletes don’t get to where they are by quitting. Tonight didn’t go their way but I expect a damn tooth and nail battle in game 6.

I admire your optimism. If this team had all different players I'd believe in a tooth and nail approach.

There’s no way Kempe extends in LA next season. He’s gone. I would be too if I were him.

Yeah he should leave for his own sake. And he's the only player on this team I actually like besides Fiala a bit (and well Kuemper had a real solid year and game 2+5).

Didn’t even bother paying close attention tonight. Once the Oilers tied it, you just knew this team was cooked. They don’t have that extra gear in them to play from behind.

As much as it pains me, Kopitar and Doughty need to hang it up. The franchise feels stuck living in nostalgia for the cup years while still trying to make it happen for #11 and #8 at the expense of just full on rebuilding. It reminds me of the end of Thornton’s and Marleau’s careers—regular season juggernauts but complete paper tigers in the playoffs. Doughty especially has been atrocious in every playoff series against Edmonton, still trying to QB the breakout like he’s in his twenties. Just stop, dude.

This team has zero grit. Even when they try to throw hits, they end up getting knocked around. The whole roster feels like a finesse experiment gone wrong—small, light, and soft on the boards. Our defense looks like a full lineup of knockoff Kris Letangs. (Gavrikov gets a pass.)

If we lose Thursday, I don’t even know. Fire Blake and Hiller? Sure. But I’m not convinced there’s anything worth rebuilding around except maybe QB and Kempe. I actually think flipping Fiala might be a decent move since he’s upped his value this year.

And yeah—Kuemper's the MVP. Only reason we even made it this far.

This whole franchise is stuck in nostalgia. It's weird. We got Luc Robitaille making us wear 90s jerseys and Rob Blake in our office, and our team is built off a 19 year old vet and Doughty and there should have been a full rebuild years ago but they just kept trying to avoid it and we are a black hole team with absolutely no playoff grit.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

Watch the replay again: Byfield skated a considerable distance with the puck before Bouchard stripped it.

It was a horrible play,, a horrible gamble and a horrible way to end our season. He had plenty of time and plenty of space.

I think all he had in mind then was ESPN's Top 10 Plays of the Week. It was highly counter-intuitive, and I repeat, one of the stupidest plays I've ever seen in my entire life in a situation such as that. All he had to do was chip the puck out and the game's over... and in all likelihood, the series..

Coming back to LA down 3-1 is a different world than coming back 2-2 with all the momentum.

Regardless what was going on in Byfield's head, it altered the course of the postseason for both teams. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and my opinion is that was an inexcusable gamble a professional should never make. He tried to be a hero and it cost us dearly.

For your viewing pleasure. It felt just as long watching it live because it was. I had time to yell CLEAR IT several times.