***St. Louis Blues vs. LA Kings GDT 5/10/21 7:00pm on BSSC (old Prime Ticket)***
0
5
Official Game Day Thread
Game #54/56 -- 5/10/21
St. Louis Blues vs. Los Angeles Kings
at
Center | Los Angeles, CAFAN APPRECIATION NIGHT
Previous Meetings:
03/17/21 — Blues 1, Kings 4
03/06/21 — Blues 3, Kings 4 (OT)
03/05/21 — Blues 3, Kings 2 (OT)
02/24/21 — Kings 2, Blues 1
02/22/21 — Kings 3, Blues 0
01/24/21 — Kings 6, Blues 3
01/23/21 — Kings 2, Blues 4
**GAME TIME - 7:00 PM*
TV:**Bally’s Sports Southern California**
(formerly Prime Ticket)
Radio: LA Kings iHeartRadio app
Please remember, DO NOT post links to Live Game Streams in the GDT or anywhere else on LGK
Todd McLellan Post Game Quotes 5/8/21
Check out articles on LA Kings Insider Here
Todd McLellan
On the team’s play tonight, and the character and intensity shown:
I liked our game tonight. There were moments where I thought, early, we were maybe a little bit intimidated, they are a very good team, but I thought once we started to play, we were aggressive, our forecheck was much better than it was yesterday. I liked our game. We made a few mistakes and against a team like that, with their ability to score, they make you pay. The character and the drive, there’s nothing there to question. Our guys showed up with it tonight, they pushed and they played hard to a man, right through the whole lineup. While it’s disappointing losing, there are some positive signs, especially playing in that type of game. That third period was as fast a period as we’ve played in a long time.
On what he liked most from the team in the third period:
The forecheck, we made a few adjustments to our forecheck, changed a few things up, the guys bought into it. I thought we were a lot more aggressive, it didn’t hurt us defensively and it created a couple of power-play opportunities. I’m not sure if the goal that Ras scored was a power-play goal or not, it was right at the end, but after that, we pushed and we challenged them to be a real good defensive team, which they were and are. We were close, but those are moral victories. We’ll take some of them right now, as we wind things up, but eventually, moral victories don’t get you a whole lot and we have to get better as a team. I’m actually pleased that we’re playing against teams like Colorado and St. Louis to finish the year, because as I said yesterday, it gives us a great evaluating tool, there’s nothing easy about playing against these teams and we get to evaluate against the best.
On Rasmus Kupari settling in and getting his first career NHL goal:
Yeah, you used the word settled in, I think he was better in the second half of the game, but our whole team was. He transported puck well, I thought he skated with authority when he had it, he made some nice plays to keep pucks alive in the offensive zone. The goal was a great play by Lias, to look off, and one of the things that Ras has is a heavy, accurate shot and he used it in that situation. Our bench was excited for him, I know he was real excited. He’s got a memory now, and hopefully there’s a lot more to come.
On the things he feels Kupari improved on from his first stint:
Obviously his game has improved, the more experience he gets at the American League level the better. Fortunately for him, he’s playing on the power play there a lot, he’s been able to penalty kill, he’s one of the go-to guys, and that transfers over into confidence at the NHL level. That’s where we’re at as an organization. Some of these kids could be here probably a little bit longer, and a little bit more, but they won’t get what they need. Playing down there is a great thing for many of them. Quinton, Rasmus, Lias has a ton of confidence right now because he was patient enough with us to go there and find his game. He’s become a very effective player for us. It’s a real good tool for us to have that American League team here.
On his focus points in terms of player evaluations in the final three games:
We’re looking for the character part, and that is as important right now, at this time of the year, as structure, passing, skills, all those types of things. We passed that test tonight. We plan on giving them a few things to focus on each night, tonight was forecheck and a few adjustments to see if we need to change the way we play a little bit. I liked our forecheck tonight, it was the first time in a long time I thought we were more aggressive. We’ll give them assignments that way, there’s some targets that we need to hit, power play, penalty kill, some 5-on-5 goals that we want to achieve down the stretch. The pure organizational evaluation of individuals right now. If you haven’t already won a job or lost a job, this is when it’s beginning to really happen. We’ll probably remember the last five games a lot more than we’ll remember the first five, so without putting pressure on a whole bunch of players, that’s just how it is. Next year, another crop comes in and it challenges. Attrition is a good thing for every team in the league and we’re getting younger and we’re moving forward. If you’re not along for the ride, if you’re not getting better, we’re going past you. A great challenge for some of the guys that have been here for a little while, keep your job.
On the team’s play tonight, and the character and intensity shown:
I liked our game tonight. There were moments where I thought, early, we were maybe a little bit intimidated, they are a very good team, but I thought once we started to play, we were aggressive, our forecheck was much better than it was yesterday. I liked our game. We made a few mistakes and against a team like that, with their ability to score, they make you pay. The character and the drive, there’s nothing there to question. Our guys showed up with it tonight, they pushed and they played hard to a man, right through the whole lineup. While it’s disappointing losing, there are some positive signs, especially playing in that type of game. That third period was as fast a period as we’ve played in a long time.
On what he liked most from the team in the third period:
The forecheck, we made a few adjustments to our forecheck, changed a few things up, the guys bought into it. I thought we were a lot more aggressive, it didn’t hurt us defensively and it created a couple of power-play opportunities. I’m not sure if the goal that Ras scored was a power-play goal or not, it was right at the end, but after that, we pushed and we challenged them to be a real good defensive team, which they were and are. We were close, but those are moral victories. We’ll take some of them right now, as we wind things up, but eventually, moral victories don’t get you a whole lot and we have to get better as a team. I’m actually pleased that we’re playing against teams like Colorado and St. Louis to finish the year, because as I said yesterday, it gives us a great evaluating tool, there’s nothing easy about playing against these teams and we get to evaluate against the best.
On Rasmus Kupari settling in and getting his first career NHL goal:
Yeah, you used the word settled in, I think he was better in the second half of the game, but our whole team was. He transported puck well, I thought he skated with authority when he had it, he made some nice plays to keep pucks alive in the offensive zone. The goal was a great play by Lias, to look off, and one of the things that Ras has is a heavy, accurate shot and he used it in that situation. Our bench was excited for him, I know he was real excited. He’s got a memory now, and hopefully there’s a lot more to come.
On the things he feels Kupari improved on from his first stint:
Obviously his game has improved, the more experience he gets at the American League level the better. Fortunately for him, he’s playing on the power play there a lot, he’s been able to penalty kill, he’s one of the go-to guys, and that transfers over into confidence at the NHL level. That’s where we’re at as an organization. Some of these kids could be here probably a little bit longer, and a little bit more, but they won’t get what they need. Playing down there is a great thing for many of them. Quinton, Rasmus, Lias has a ton of confidence right now because he was patient enough with us to go there and find his game. He’s become a very effective player for us. It’s a real good tool for us to have that American League team here.
On his focus points in terms of player evaluations in the final three games:
We’re looking for the character part, and that is as important right now, at this time of the year, as structure, passing, skills, all those types of things. We passed that test tonight. We plan on giving them a few things to focus on each night, tonight was forecheck and a few adjustments to see if we need to change the way we play a little bit. I liked our forecheck tonight, it was the first time in a long time I thought we were more aggressive. We’ll give them assignments that way, there’s some targets that we need to hit, power play, penalty kill, some 5-on-5 goals that we want to achieve down the stretch. The pure organizational evaluation of individuals right now. If you haven’t already won a job or lost a job, this is when it’s beginning to really happen. We’ll probably remember the last five games a lot more than we’ll remember the first five, so without putting pressure on a whole bunch of players, that’s just how it is. Next year, another crop comes in and it challenges. Attrition is a good thing for every team in the league and we’re getting younger and we’re moving forward. If you’re not along for the ride, if you’re not getting better, we’re going past you. A great challenge for some of the guys that have been here for a little while, keep your job.
Subject To Change
FORWARDS
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Blues Probable Lineup
(courtesy of www2.dailyfaceoff.com)
FORWARDS
Former Kings
Kyle Clifford
Brayden Schenn
__________________________________________________ _________
__________________________________________________ _________
GOALIE COMPARISONS
PLAYER STATS
HONDA WEST DIVISION STANDINGS
Tonight’s Poll Questions:
The LAST POLL QUESTIONS OF THE SEASON
Winners will be listed in the May 12/13 combined GDT. (I’ll be traveling on the 12th, so no new GDT).
Part 1 - Who is going to score the LAST REGULATION or OT GOAL in Staples Center this season?
(not necessarily the game winner)
You can take 6 guesses
if it freakishly goes to a 0-0 shootout, then whoever scores the very last goal will count
Part 2 - Who is going to take the LAST PENALTY in Staples this season?
You can take 4 guesses per team (so 8 total guesses, but no more than 4 per team)
Part 3 - What will be the final score of this game? (don’t have to get the teams right, just the numbers)
You can take 2 guesses
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
HUGE THANKS TO JAMMER FOR LISTING THE WINNERS FOR ALL MY CRAZY QUESTIONS THIS SEASON.
ONE MORE TO GO!
Congratulations to the following posters who correctly guessed one or more of the following :
Total goals over 2 games = 10
Total shot differential +/- 2 of 12
Shots on goal Kings +/- 2 of 18
Shots on goal Avalanche +/- 2 of 30
Total goals 10 (1 point) :
cokingsfan
Helvetica
srm1105
Stormy2213
KHenry14
Rogie-Vachon
forum gold
JETS GARAGE
Liz4LA
waynet
Shot on goal differential 10,14 (1 point)
jammer06
Helvetica
srm1105
John a90
sonnyboy11
MBreeden
Liz4LA
Shot on goal differential 11,13 (2 points)
Rogie-Vachon
forum gold
Stormy2213
MaxwellSmart
VegasHockey
Rusty
Dr. Tran
Shots on goal differential 12 (3 points)
KHenry14
Chateau Bow Wow
LeftyKing
Shots on goal Kings 17,19 (2 points)
hokiecat
Shots on goal Kings 18 (3 points)
CIrvine
Shots on goal Avalanche 28,32 (1 point)
Nyssa42
Poll Win Totals
In case you’re wondering, srm1105 won last season (2019-20), and Lefty King came in 2nd place
King Of The Mountain with 39 points:
LeftyKing
36 points
AngelEyes
Dr. Tran
35 points
Rusty
34 points
Liz4LA
33 points
Stormy2213
32 points
Helvetica
John a90
MaxwellSmart
Rogie-Vachon
31 points
hornman
30 points
CIrvine
srm1105
29 points
VegasHockey
28 points
Chateau Bow Wow
hokiecat
KHenry14
27 points
cokingsfan
forum gold
sonnyboy11
26 points
notbob
25 points
VCRW
24 points
23 points
22 points
21 points
pray4mojo
20 points
JETS GARAGE
19 points
jammer06
Nyssa42
waynet
18 points
17 points
Clif
MBreeden
SirJW
16 points
15 points
dannybuoy1
DRGinLBC
JayWells24
14 points
kingsmen93
13 points
12 points
Busted Chops
Puckmaster
Sevenhole
TooCool
11 points
10 points
empire
Rawley19
9 points
8 points
7 points
Joe Lavigueur
Shackleford
6 points
Ragbone
5 points
Byron
Histiking
Ice24
4 points
beedee
randdog
3 points
05/29/93
FAN4LIFE
Greg33
kingrussell
LAKingSteve
STONE
Tiranga
Zombitar
2 points
NobleSavage
1 point
beady eye
Dexter
Dirtweazle
Ecktore
jom
Trapper9
________________________________________________
Photos courtesy of nhl.com.