I feel like this image sums up everything wrong with this team. I really don't feel like they are trying to win just trying to go to ot and get that one goal. But that doesn't work try something new try and get offense going i know the avs defense is insane but you gotta have atleast one line thay can produce offense. I feel as if they play to get the extra point and not just win the game. They had the lead but they play so much in their own zone and against a team like the avs its not gonna cut it. If they played with the idea of scoring one more even already up by one maybe they win but no. They just play defense and try to kill the clock. You can do that up 2 or 3 from the start of the 3rd and you will probably win. But up one you have to keep trying to score and you don't start killing the clock with 8 left you can see in the expected goal chart exactly what happen after they score they give the avs more offensive zone time. They didn't get a shot the rest of the 3rd for god sake. Because playing defense is so exhausting for the players and thats how you get scored on. Its ok to let one go in if you're up 2 or 3 but with one goal you have to make the other team get tired more you can't let them get chance after chance and let them have all the momentum in the world its just not gonna cut it. The only reason they play like this is because that all they have been doing all year its go to overtime instead of trying to win a winable hockey game. This was my rant if anyone is gonna read this far have a good day.
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Im a pens fan watching as many playoff games i can and I agree. A lot of games are more about physicality right now. Just look at bolts vs Habs and Sabres vs Bruins. Yikes.
Yes it is frustrating, but they’re also doing the only thing they can do to have a chance to beat the Avs.
It has been frustratng for so long now. No fun hockey, clutch and grab and the final score will be 2 – 1 so often. I mean, it’s a style and it has worked for them in the past and is a valid system, but I’d hate to be a kings fan, because it’s boring AF to watch.
If the Avs would put some of their chances in the net early, it would open the game up.
Forsberg has been incredible in net so far for the Kings.
This is why I’m so happy to not be playing them this year. Even pre-Smith they run a 1-3-1 and just try to kill any offence.
And to anyone who says “the game was better back in the 90s and 2000s,” watch a 1-0 game between LA and the Islanders. That was what every game felt like.
The Kings have been getting bent over the barrel in the playoffs since they won the Cup. 6 first round exits on an aging team with 4 of those coming against the Oilers. The Avalanche and Oilers play a very similar game and so LA is falling back to what they can do against offensive juggernauts: Survive the waves, trap the neutral zone, and pray for a puck to weasel it’s way into the net.
Coincidentally, the Wild used to play the same brand of hockey until they finally nabbed a handful of offensive players who can actually control the pace of play. Until the Kings manage to harness that missing element, we are subjected to countless first round exists preceded by ghastly, boring play
Mcgahey was not happy about it either. His broadcast last night was great.
Don’t watch then?
Seems like an easy problem to solve.
Helenius taking some silly drugs last night
Go look at that advanced statistics on moneypuck. We are completely dominating them, just getting a little unlucky and a little goalied. I think people are missing the number of posts we have hit already in the series.
The team has been in need of a complete makeover for at least 6 years now, build around a different core and install a completely different system. But for the sake of staying in contention for Kopitar and Doughty they’ve kicked the can down the road and that’s resulted in the style they have today. Their only chance of winning is playing a bogged down grindy game. They’d get blown out of the water playing a fast paced transition game. This has also stifled the growth of their prospects. I think in another system Byfield and Clarke would be PPG players.
I agree but I also think it’s their best chance to hang in there with a team like the Av’s. We definitely need to blow it up and rebuild but the organization insists on just switching in a few new players a year and praying something will change
Facing this style in the first round can only help them in later rounds. Making adjustments and knowing you can grind it out if needed is exactly how you go all the way.
The kings have been awful to watch for years!
For a short window of time it looked like smaller and speedy was the way to go but watching these playoffs it shows that size and grinders are even more important.
Although im positive the aves win this series. This is how they have to play to have a chance. Both games have been very close games it also seems to be working to keep the games close
I don’t even know what I’d do if I had to watch MacKinnon skate the puck into my d zone. I’d probably just go home.
What else are they gonna do? Go pure offense and try to beat the Avs by trading blows?
That’s gonna go … worse
There’s no other way for them to keep the Avs offense in check. The difference in 5v5 production is just too much for LA to risk playing any other way than conservatively
Avs good, Kings terrible.
Folks should *try* being a 🦬 fan!
The Kings don’t actually have a winning record this season, so does it surprise you? They got in on loser points.
Can someone ELI5 this? This looks super cool and interesting but i don’t entirely understand the context. Im about 1-2 years into really following my team but dont quite get this stuff yet.
They did make it into the playoffs due to 20 points from OTLs..
But also, my biggest surprise of the playoffs so far has been the Avs only scoring 3 regulation goals through 2 home games. They were scoring 3.8 GF/G at home this year.
Sure, the Kings need to score more, but I’d say the Kings have done remarkably well so far. And *IF* they had scored one in OT last night, the 1-1 series would be the biggest talk of the NHL today.
EDIT: But I guess your post was simply saying it’s horrible to watch. And to that point… Fair.
5 years straight they try this and fail. Keep doing it though.
They are a case study in why the 3-2-1 points system should at least be considered
This is why avs have to do the same as the oilers and make sure they beat the kings to avoid copy cat teams. This series is important for hockey.
You expected the Kings to try and play hockey with the Avs? It’s such a mismatch, they only chance they have it to muck the game up and turn every sequence into a battle.
I personally thought last night was a riveting hockey game. I thoroughly enjoyed that game even tho my team lost.
Sorry, Girard is no longer on the AVS so you can’t just wait for him to get out there so the Kings can score
They have no choice, they’re severely outgunned.
The best way I’ve heard it described is that they try to stop hockey from being played, period. It’s why they’ve played so many OT games this year.
The Kings are playing this series to the best of their ability. It very likely will not be enough but their strategy is correct
Honest question. Do kings fans even enjoy watching the kings? Watching a team who hopes to win a game in a coin flip is so boring to watch.
Personally, I’d rather my team be 32nd in the league with hopes for a high draft pick than 16th in the league with no chance for a cup
Yeah, no disrespect to the kings or kings fans. My team ain’t better. But the Kings are actually like pretty bad. This year they were 3rd last in regulation wins, 4th last in goals for, and are somehow under .500 at home.
Their strength is they play 1-3-1 so well and in the regular season that got them to or where they could collect that extra point. Now that they are in the playoffs and it’s winner take all against the best offense in the league, they have no way out even if they can keep scoring low the outcome is inevitable.
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