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VCRW
Lurker
Thank you, Kings, for this wake-up surprise! GKG!!!
***Tampa Bay Lightning vs. LA Kings GDT 10/25/22 7:30pm on BSW***
- Thread starter Nyssa42
- Start date
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Statue4Deano
Lurker
Vilardi has arrived. Is he a point per game player? Probably not but the kid is a very interesting mix of size and skill. His confidence level is sky high and he’s making elite plays in the offensive zone. Very exciting!
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Illegal_Stick
Lurker
I've seen players progress before - Kempe last year as an example, but this is like a whole other human being. He just exudes confidence every time he has the puck. Whoever helped him straighten out that brain deserves a medal and no matter what anyone says, the coach deserves a lot of credit for not letting him settle into being a third line player. Mostly, of course, the credit goes to Vilardi himself because I, and a lot of people, figured he was done as a high end prospect.
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VCRW
Lurker
Vilardi was so dominant with Windsor and Kingston and he looked to be a sure thing for the NHL. The congenital back condition seemed to have caused him to become depressed. It took his mental health a bit longer to return than did his physical attributes. Kudos to the Kings for sticking with him and giving him the support he needed.
Congratulations to the following posters who correctly guessed either that Perry would get nothing (and like it) and/or came within +/-2 mins of 13:17 of the second being the recorded time of the GWG by Lizotte:
+/- 1 Minute (12:17-14:17) 2 points:
VegasHockey
DRGinLBC
Clif
+/- 2 Minutes (11:17-15:17) 1 point:
Dexter
pray4mojo
hornman
Bill Hicks
Zero Points:
jammer06
CIrvine
VegasHockey
DRice
Rusty
srm1105
Rogie-Vachon
randdog
dannybuoy1
John a90
DRGinLBC
LeftyKing
Kurisu
JETS GARAGE
hornman
Clif
Dr. Tran
kingrussell
Bill Hicks
That tampa team is better than their record. Great win for the club and so good to see that Gabe is just still trucking right along. Arvidsson might need a different home when he comes back. One thing for sure it's buying time for Fiala to figure out what he needs to be. Kopitar and Kempe need to sort that out as well but I must say Kempe's shot was just a beauty. The defense is still a work in progress, Clarke for as well as he did (and poorly at times) is still a hard call at 10 minutes a night. We have the rest of this homestand before a decision has to be made, and 2 more very tough visitors. Looking forward to how they hold up against Toronto.
+/- 1 Minute (12:17-14:17) 2 points:
VegasHockey
DRGinLBC
Clif
+/- 2 Minutes (11:17-15:17) 1 point:
Dexter
pray4mojo
hornman
Bill Hicks
Zero Points:
jammer06
CIrvine
VegasHockey
DRice
Rusty
srm1105
Rogie-Vachon
randdog
dannybuoy1
John a90
DRGinLBC
LeftyKing
Kurisu
JETS GARAGE
hornman
Clif
Dr. Tran
kingrussell
Bill Hicks
That tampa team is better than their record. Great win for the club and so good to see that Gabe is just still trucking right along. Arvidsson might need a different home when he comes back. One thing for sure it's buying time for Fiala to figure out what he needs to be. Kopitar and Kempe need to sort that out as well but I must say Kempe's shot was just a beauty. The defense is still a work in progress, Clarke for as well as he did (and poorly at times) is still a hard call at 10 minutes a night. We have the rest of this homestand before a decision has to be made, and 2 more very tough visitors. Looking forward to how they hold up against Toronto.
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Statue4Deano
Lurker
Brandt Clarke took a developmental step last night. He played his most effective game against one of the top tier teams in the league. He rose to the occasion not unlike a young Drew Doughty. On the goal he created it wasn’t just the pass that was impressive. It was his vision, instinct to jump into transition, his demand for the puck when he crossed the offensive blue line. Those are all the hallmarks of a supremely confident 19 year old.
https://twitter.com/LAKings/status/1585119096605011968
https://twitter.com/LAKings/status/1585119096605011968
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LAKingSteve
Lurker
Kid has gotta stay on the roster at this point. Sending him to OHL would be a big step backwards from a development standpoint.
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sonnyboy11
Lurker
Totally missed the GDT and question but I did go to the game. And what a game it was! Not much more to add to what has already been said. Vilardi was just plain excellent all night. And winning like we did against TB is no easy feat. Bring on the Jets!
That first goal against though he was in absolute no mans land. Two forwards coming back on the winger on the breakout against and he's trying to be involved too. He's fronting him from behind the red line and instead putting Doughty in a very likely 2-1 situation. Even if he doesn't go deeper to his blue line but takes more of the center ice he can take the inside position on Hagel and let Doughty pressure the entry at the blue line. He's got some work to do still.
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VCRW
Lurker
Vilardi and Kempe leading the team in scoring is a very healthy sign for the Kings. Younger guys assuming leadership of the team is exactly what should be happening at this point of the rebuild.
On the other hand, Kopitar at -5 is a cause for concern. It leads me to believe he is still not cutting down his shift time. That has to change. His obviously aging body cannot be denied by TM for much longer if the team is going to take the next step.
On the other hand, Kopitar at -5 is a cause for concern. It leads me to believe he is still not cutting down his shift time. That has to change. His obviously aging body cannot be denied by TM for much longer if the team is going to take the next step.
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jgs
Lurker
That was an unexpected win and a great confidence booster. I am glad that Vilardi has found his game. Kings are going to need his offensive skill in producing and scoring goals if they are to take the next step. I am just glad that TM head games with Vilardi didn't ruin him. Clarke I hope he stays and matures quickly into the d-man he is capable of becoming. QB is playing much better. Now if the Kings can get Turcot and the other youngsters going. The future will look real good for the Kings. They could trade Kopi and DD, bring in a top notch goaltender in the process and this team could be cup contenders sooner than later.
Most recent 5 games
Tampa 21:34 overall 2:25 on the PP, 1:57 on the PK
Washington 20:57 overall, 1:13 on the PP, 2:03 on the PK
Pittsburgh 15:32 overall, 3:57 on the PP, 1;03 on the PK
Nashville 21:27 overall, 7:34 on the PP, 2;12 on the PK
Detroit 18:51 overall, 4:47 on the PP, 1;53 on the PK
Personally I think they desperately need to cut both of his specialty teams minutes. Of the two I give more weight to cutting the PK time. The 7 minutes against Nash and 4:30 against Detroit were both egregious though. You need to get everyone else in the game. Especially since they went a combined 1/12 in both those games on the PP.
Kopitar is the last player on earth that you need to "get going" by letting them out there in easy minutes. All it really seems to do is get him to stop moving his feet. Sadly on the PK he seems to have a similar bent when what's really needed is hard work to take away lanes and then jump on those loose pucks. He's positionally sound and in the right spot, but pucks Moore and Danault can get to and break up a pk he's content to let the opposition keep in the zone.
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Pickle_Pucks
Lurker
Vilardi is still only 22...crazy to think about that. 22.
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Bill Hicks
Lurker
As someone who has had a chronically bad back for 30 years, you are dead on correct.
It is debilitating mentally and physically.
B
Bill Hicks
Lurker
And a little help from Cole to play that poorly by not having his stick in the passing lane
and Colton for coasting just enough.
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VCRW
Lurker
I hear you. And I have first hand experience as well. A severe spinal injury ended my athletic career at 17.
Pevsfreedom
somehow in south carolina
I have had bad lower back pain my whole life and recently moving I injured upper back, and they did spinal MRI and found I was born with a birth defect in my lower spine, that was causing the 30 years of pain. So that's something. Nothing to do about it, but knowledge is power?
Beside the fact that they both overpaid now and old, no GM would take them let alone give up something of value
Dr. Tran
Top Forward
Agree with most here about this game. We started off shaky but by the end of it this was the best game of the season so far. Vilardi has been the amazing. I knew coming in to this season he'd have to prove himself & he's done it. He came in with a great attitude & combined with his physical gifts he had success to start the preseason. That success built more confidence & that continued with more success. And right now I think he's been the best player so far this season. I hope it means he's going to have a breakout season the way Kempe did last year.
And Clarke should absolutely stay up for the entire season. He's NHL ready right now. He still has a lot to learn but I think most of those lessons can only be learned playing & practicing with the Kings.
Go Kings Go!
And Clarke should absolutely stay up for the entire season. He's NHL ready right now. He still has a lot to learn but I think most of those lessons can only be learned playing & practicing with the Kings.
Go Kings Go!
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