Game Day Thread
Game #78/82 -- 04/07/25
>>7:30pm<<
on FanDuel
Seattle Kraken vs Los Angeles Kings
Crypto.com Arena | Los Angeles, CA
Drawstring Bag Giveaway - first 10,000 fans
(already got one a few games ago - it's nice!)
**Game Time 7:30pm**
TV: FanDuel
Radio: ESPN LA app only
Check Out More Articles & Video on LA Kings Insider Here
Alex Laferriere (video), Anze Kopitar & Jim Hiller 4/5 Post-Game Quotes
Anze Kopitar
On the notion of a playoff preview of sorts with Edmonton tonight
I think we’re used to those guys and obviously they’re used to us, we’ve played them enough over the past three years. With them having the two big boys out, but they played hard, they had us working for everything and it’s good for us, obviously, to get the win, but just the way we played, too. I think we can take a lot of positives out of it.
On the fit Andrei Kuzmenko has been on his line
He’s obviously a high skill guy. His offensive-zone play is very impressive, how he creates stuff when you don’t necessarily think that he can create. He’s been getting on the scoresheet, so it’s definitely good for the confidence. Hopefully we can keep on rolling.
On tonight’s win going towards the potential of gaining home-ice advantage in Round 1
There’s going to be times in the playoffs when you’ve got to win on the road too. We have confidence in this team. Would it be nice to start at home? Of course. It’s something that’s there for the taking, but we’re going game by game and building our game. When the first game rolls around, we’ll be ready.
On if he feels like there has been a different sort of vibe around the team this spring
It’s a confident group, yeah, I mean, that’s what we’ll give you. We’ve been playing pretty well. Some nights, not necessarily the greatest hockey, but still gets it done, so that’s something we want to continue building and make sure we’re ready when playoffs roll around.
On finding ways to win even without their best stuff in certain games
Yeah, of course, you’ve got to find a way to win hockey games in different ways. I think the biggest attribute is it’s really the scoring has been spread throughout the lineup, really. I mean, yeah, you have Juice and Kevin getting 30 but everybody else has been chipping in on any given night and it’s great to see.
Jim Hiller
On his impressions from today’s victory
I like to evaluate us first and I thought we were just very average in the first period, but then played very well in the second and third. They’re a good team no matter what, they won three in a row, we talked about that coming in. We didn’t like how we played in the first and I really liked the second and third. So, we’ll measure on that from our side.
On the mentality shown in defeat an under-manned Edmonton squad
We knew it was going to be good game. They checked hard. They check hard when everybody’s in the lineup, they check hard when they’re missing a few guys. I can tell you this, the guys in their room, I’m pretty sure they would have liked nothing more than to come into this building and beat us without the players that they don’t have right now. I’m sure that conversation took place in their room. So, we had to be ready for that. I thought they played really well, it was a close game.
On the play of Kevin Fiala as of late
He’s playing his best. I’m going to say, over the last week, he’s played as well as I’ve seen him play. So, we’ve got a ways to go, but if you’ve noticed, he’s backchecking, lifting sticks forechecking, he tracked somebody down the other night, stole the puck. Beyond the 30 goals and I’m really happy for him, because he hasn’t had the best season, and he’s sitting here with 30 goals. That’s not easy to do. Right now, with the way he’s playing, I couldn’t be happier with him.
On his impressions on his fourth line, after injuries to Turcotte and Jeannot
We were all so excited about Jeanno, Turc and Sami, we talked about it here night after night. I think it took a little time, but now I see some real chemistry coming in between Lewie, Malott and Helenius and it’s important, those are important minutes. We were saying Malott had a highlight fight, his first fight in the NHL was a highlight-reel fight, and this would have been a highlight-reel goal. It’s too bad it came back on an inch, that’s the rules, but what a way to start. Mally’s really adapted to the NHL, at this time of the season, when you can’t get your feet wet, you’re thrown right in the frying pan.
On his desire to earn home-ice advantage in the postseason
We’d certainly like to earn it. For some reason this year in particular, we played extremely well here at home, so you’d like to have that advantage, but there’s lots of hockey left to play. You can’t look past anybody. So, we’ve got to make sure we’re just taking care of the business, one game at a time, and see where it lands.
Lineups Courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
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KRAKEN PROBABLE LINEUP
Former Kings
Michael Eyssimont
FORMER KINGS ON STAFF
Dan Bylsma - Head Coach
Jeff Tambellini - Director of Player Development
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GOALIE COMPARISON
PLAYERS TO WATCH
(last 5 games)
WILD CARD STANDINGS
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*Today’s Poll Question Game*
Part 1 - How many SAVES will the KINGS goalie make?
Part 2 - How many SAVES will the KRAKEN goalie make?
you can take 2 guesses per part
+/- 1 = 1 pt, dead on = 2 pts
(so 4 possible points)
Take your best guesses in your post below.
The only prize is the glory of seeing your name in the next GDT if you get it right.
PREVIOUS GAME'S WINNERS
Congratulations to the following posters who correctly guessed Kuzmenko for 2nd goal,
or 0 points on the Power Play:
Kuzmenko (2 pts):
SirJW
Hockey53
Rog or Reg!
Chateau Bow Wow
Cross Traffic
HiFi
Forum Gold
Drum4Pigs
notbob
JayWells24
JC6388LAKings
mugs
Liz4LA
kingsmen93
0 PP Points (2 pts)
empire
Rogie-Vachon
POLL GAME WIN TOTALS
King of the Mountain - 63 points
Rusty
60 pts
Sir JW
Vegas Hockey
59 pts
KernCoKingsFan
Liz4LA
VCRW
58 pts
Chateau Bow Wow
Drum4Pigs
Hockey 53
mugs
57 pts
Kingsmen93
56 pts
Forum Gold
55 pts
Cross Traffic
sonnyboy11
54 pts
Rogie-Vachon
53 pts
empire
Guinevere
52 pts
HiFi
JayWells24
51 pts
Dr. Tran
50 pts
Angel Eyes
pray4mojo
49 pts
DRice
48 pts
hornman
randdog
46 pts
jammer06
45 pts
Nyssa42
44 pts
Byron
43 pts
Shackleford
40 pts
CIrvine
39 pts
notbob
38 pts
dannybuoy1
Rog or Reg?
33 pts
TooCool
28 pts
RinkRat
27 pts
Clif
motolare
23 pts
DRGinLBC
20 pts
JETS GARAGE
