GDT Round 1 Game 2 GDT LA Kings @ Colorado Avalanche 4/19/26 7:00pm on ESPN & FanDuel So Cal***

[Clif]

Looking at comments in pressers today, I never realized what whiney little biches Avs fans are. They remind me a lot of Oilers and Ducks fans that don’t seem to know the game of hockey very well. Every hit by a Kings player was dirty and should have been a boarding call.

Does anyone still do the “What they’re saying” threads? I miss those.

I miss the WTS threads too - very time consuming but I promised myself I’d put them up for playoff wins - provided the win doesn’t come when they’re down 3-0. Here’s hoping Game 3 delivers.

On that note, hoping for better things next season. I hated this team most of the year so WTS threads aren’t much fun when you agree with the opposing fans.

Also, I’m disappointed in what I see from COL fans. I love a passionate, knowledgeable fanbase. I thought they were both, but apparently not.

 

[LAKingSteve]

Kings put up a solid effort. Defense held Avs in check...until they didn't. Story of the Kings season...giving up that late goal. But the Avs were the best team in the league for a reason. Plenty of depth to push back exactly when needed. And we know how the Kings are in OT so it felt like the ending was a foregone conclusion. It's great to hold the Avs to 2 goals a game but it's meaningless if you can only score one. Very unlikely the Kings win 4 of 5, hoping they can at least win one at home to avoid the sweep.

 

[LAKingSteve]

Maybe try QB with Panarin & Kempe for some extra speed? Put Kuzy with Kopi & Laffy, then Kopi has two strong wingers to dish to? Or am I high on chocolate chip cookies and OT stress??

I'm guessing that's the likely line next season. Don't see them switching it up at this point.

 

[LAKingSteve]

And as much as I hate to say this, QB is starting to sour on me with his ineptitude on O with those missed chances and/or denied shots. He's really becoming our version of Kaapo Kakko, if that's a good comparison to take. I've been defending QB for the past few years, but now even I have to join the crowd that's turned on him. A shame, since somewhere he's a really gifted player there.

You're catching up to the rest of us. Q has been generally terrible at finishing on grade A chances. He had 3 including the penalty shot. Convert just one of those and it's a different game. But that's been the issue this series. Panarin and Doughty miss wide open goals in game one, Q has these opportunities in game 2. Have to convert or you leave the door open...and the Avs walked right in that door to win both games.

 

[ICE24]

Great teams finish and that is what Colorado is doing, just enough for the win. The Kings are playing tremendous playoff hockey; they just don't capitalize on their chances. That's the difference.

Not one of us thought that these games would be decided by one goal, not with the firepower the Avs on their team. I am more worried about the Kings playing at home than I did on the road.

 

[xcheck]

 

[Clif]

You're catching up to the rest of us. Q has been generally terrible at finishing on grade A chances. He had 3 including the penalty shot. Convert just one of those and it's a different game. But that's been the issue this series. Panarin and Doughty miss wide open goals in game one, Q has these opportunities in game 2. Have to convert or you leave the door open...and the Avs walked right in that door to win both games.

Why I can’t be mad at Ceci for failing to clear the puck late.

Number one, who on Kings defense doesn’t fail to clear the puck during games?

Secondly, mistakes happen and that whole sequence wasn’t even the worst thing the Kings did all night. Three on one never should have happened but Mikey came up massive. Just because Avs didn’t score there doesn’t mean we should grit our teeth they scored later off some other mistake. Expecting the Kings to play perfect hockey is not how to win.

I don’t blame the defensive side of a team when the loss is 2-1. Which brings us to the awful 5-on-5 this team has displayed offensively. They have simply not been good enough to get second chances around the net. Which means Q had to capitalize on one of those chances all alone because Kings aren’t getting much.

 

[jammer06]

I don't even know what to say. The team is doing what they have to do to give themselves a chance. But it really seems like they need more than 80% of all the puck luck to get it to stick. That is a good Av's team, not sure how much everyone appreciates watching a team that has that kind of depth. Mac in Mac mode is just as terrifying as McDavid, Necas flies, but then they have Brock, Kadri and that f***ing gnat Drury. Defensively even Mason is probably better now after years of playing with this team than he ever was. Proud of the guys thus far, but its a series and they better have learned after last year your game 1 and 2 efforts don't mean squat once its game 3.

 

[drums4dmf]

I dunno. Wright had ALL day to get the puck out the zone on the prior play but decided to ice it instead, leading to the goal on the next shift. Young and inexperienced.

IMO - He was on the hook for the game tying goal as well. Kings win the faceoff and Ceci puts it around the boards where Wright should have been - he was a good 20 feet away and the dman easily kept it in and they scored shortly after. As you mentioned, young and inexperienced.

 

[DryKing]

Personally I have no complaints right now. The Kings are executing on a strong strategy and showing how far heart can get them. We all knew it would be an uphill battle, and each game could be a blowout but the Kings are holding their own and showing a high degree of attention to detail.

Getting the team to perform like this definitely raises my opinion of what DJ brings as well (though I think Greene also has a lot to do with it).

Even if the series ends up as a sweep, if the Kings keep playing the way they have I will have nothing but respect. GKG!

 

[ICE24]

I would also like to see more goals 5 on 5 for the Kings. Kempe, Breadman and Kopi, Moore, Laffy and Byfield, try and score and not just on the PP. A team shouldn't have to be short-handed each time Panarin puts the puck in the net. The Avs had a ton of penalties, and the Kings can score only once.

 

[symbology]

You're catching up to the rest of us. Q has been generally terrible at finishing on grade A chances. He had 3 including the penalty shot. Convert just one of those and it's a different game. But that's been the issue this series. Panarin and Doughty miss wide open goals in game one, Q has these opportunities in game 2. Have to convert or you leave the door open...and the Avs walked right in that door to win both games.

How many grade A scoring chances did the Avs blow? As many or more, from my recollection. Especially in game 1.

 

[05/29/93]

I would also like to see more goals 5 on 5 for the Kings. Kempe, Breadman and Kopi, Moore, Laffy and Byfield, try and score and not just on the PP. A team shouldn't have to be short-handed each time Panarin puts the puck in the net. The Avs had a ton of penalties, and the Kings can score only once.

ANY 5 on 5 goals for the Kings would be good, as thus far they have none through two games. Ironically, the Kings (specifically Panerin) have scored 2 PP goals against the top-ranked Avs PK. The Kings are playing the only type of game they can to stay in these games. Try to open things up, and the Avalanche will run them out of the rink. Even last night, the Avs hit two posts and squandered a 3 on 1. This could have easily been a 4-1 game. The series is going slightly better than expected, in that the Kings are hanging with the Avs, but don't have enough to win (so far).

 

[Statue4Deano]

DJ has got to find a way to put Kuzmenko in the lineup for game 3. The team needs more offense period.

It won’t happen but my first choice is sitting Armia. I believe he’s still hurt from the Olympics injury and it’s putting him behind on just about every play. it’s making a slow player move even slower.

I’d also put Turcotte in for Mallot. We’d lose some more size and physicality but Turcotte is faster and can actually make some plays with the puck.

 

[DRice]

Actually this is exactly what I was afraid of when they clinched a playoff spot. Deja vu of the past few years.....good, but not good enough. Just enough to keep fans hoping, but not enough to do any real damage. Then again, I guess you could say that about ⅓ of the teams in the league that are stuck in the dreaded "black hole". My gut says Game 3 is going to be a blowout, I'm just not sure by which team. Ok, I'm pretty sure by which team.

 

[Clif]

DJ has got to find a way to put Kuzmenko in the lineup for game 3. The team needs more offense period.

It won’t happen but my first choice is sitting Armia. I believe he’s still hurt from the Olympics injury and it’s putting him behind on just about every play. it’s making a slow player move even slower.

I’d also put Turcotte in for Mallot. We’d lose some more size and physicality but Turcotte is faster and can actually make some plays with the puck.

I am good with these changes. Armia is behind the play, and even late in the game he got away with another hold. It wasn’t as long or obvious as the call in the first but same exact scenario.

Malott didn’t hurt the team last night which is best I can say about him, whereas Sammy and Joseph actually helped the team. Big night for that line.

 

[waynet]

Maybe try QB with Panarin & Kempe for some extra speed? Put Kuzy with Kopi & Laffy, then Kopi has two strong wingers to dish to? Or am I high on chocolate chip cookies and OT stress??

Yup. 5x5 just isn't working. Kopi has been a wonderful player, but it's hard not see how much trouble he has keeping up with the Avs pace. This basically neuters the 2 best goal scorers.

 

[ICE24]

We can talk all day about a mistake a player or players make during a game. What I want to comment about is the lack of offensive production for over 120 minutes. Two PP goals in over 120 minutes. That's what I want to talk about. Zero five on five goals in two games, that's what I want to comment about. Players aren't perfect and they will make mistakes during a game and it's usually due to their opposition.

I look at the Kings top two lines and how many grade "A" chances they are getting to score. Kempe, Panarin and Kopi have done nothing 5 on 5. As well as the second and third lines. A mistake did not lose the game for the Kings; it was the lack of production by our top lines that lost both games.

I don't have the stats, but the Kings are 2 for whatever on the PP. Whatever that is, it's not good. Big time players, play big in big games. The Kings big time players are costing the Kings wins in this round. We all praise Panarin for scoring twice on the PP, out of how many opportunities? He is supposed to be a difference maker and should make other players better, make the Avs pay for committing all these penalties, not just once a game. Lastly, don't be afraid to score 5 on 5.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

I'm guessing that's the likely line next season. Don't see them switching it up at this point.

Kopi is gone in a few more games. So substitute Kopi with ???

IMO, I’m not interested in Matthews. Too much $$ and doesn’t seem to be well liked by teammates.

So who?

 

[Pevsfreedom]

The Kings have a lead near the end of the game then blow it.

The Kings go into OT and lose.

Sounds like the regular season to me. Maybe they forgot they don't get a "pity" point in the playoffs.

However, I like how the team played (especially in goal) and some unexpected good play from the defense.

Unfortunately, it seems much of the same things are going on under coach-in-training DJ Smith as happened under Phillis Hiller. I hope the Kings seriously look into hiring a real coach in the off-season.

The Avs are just doing was top team do. Comeback and win. Go watch highlights of the 2014 Kings playoffs and this is what you see.

Now the Kings come home to where they've been DOMINANT all season. Yay...?

jom

We definitely need a coach but also need a lot of players. Can't score goals and our defense mostly sucks.