New year, same story, still hoping for a different ending.
Deeply concerning defensive lapses aside to the second worst team in the NHL this year and nearly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the Los Angeles Kings, with the help of the Vegas Golden Knights not showing up to their game against the Anaheim Ducks, managed to solidify their standing of 3rd place in the Pacific Division, giving them, for the third straight year, the Edmonton Oilers as their playoff opponent.
...
From Jewels From The Crown
| over 1 year ago
| 1 read
Feb 29, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke (92) celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Kings won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
First year defender Brandt Clarke was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team for the 2023-24 season.
The 2023-24 AHL All-Rookie Team has been unveiled. #AHLAwards đź“ť: https://t.co/Aa8eNtyCLw pic.twitter.com/kQTBSt1nlp — AHL Communications (@AHL...
From Jewels From The Crown
| over 1 year ago
| 1 read
The real postseason push begins now as the team has a lot of unfinished business to complete. Here’s a quick look at the rest of their season and potential playoff matchups.
Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over the struggling Calgary Flames sealed the Los Angeles Kings’ postseason bid, officially clinching a berth in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs. In true Kings fashion, it took a little extra longer than would’ve been comfortable, nearly coming down to the wire unlike years past when they h...
From Jewels From The Crown
| over 1 year ago
| 1 read
Seasoned Kings players defy aging stereotypes, leading with skill and experience on and off the ice.
With graying hair and slight hints of wrinkles around their eyes and smiles, a few LA Kings players are beginning to show their age off the ice. On the ice, there’s little sign that their 30+ year old bodies have been through the ringer throughout their careers.
At 36 years old, Anze Kopitar is still highly productive in all areas of the ice. He may not be a corsi god (that honor...
From Jewels From The Crown
| over 1 year ago
| 1 read
As the Los Angeles Kings' rising stars shine, their impact is felt not just in California, but across the NHL.
Between a stoic Swede and a young Canadian hailed to be the “next Anze Kopitar”, Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield are hitting their strides at the exact right time for the Los Angeles Kings. Both first round draft picks (Kempe 29th overall in 2014; Byfield 2nd overall in 2020), the two forwards have become critical components to a Kings team trying its best to not only make the p...
From Jewels From The Crown
| over 1 year ago
| 1 read
Akil Thomas, drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 2018 draft, made his NHL debut this week. The forward has seen limited ice time so far, but made a big impact in his time against the Sharks.
Thomas’s first NHL goal, and first career point, came at 11:13 in the first period. Thomas and PL Dubois came down the ice together, with Thomas using other players as a screen to find the back of the net. His goal also stands as the game-winner, a feat which he has accomplishe...
From Jewels From The Crown
| over 1 year ago
| 1 read
The Anaheim Ducks may boast the most consistent elite goalie play in NHL history. With the trade deadline past, multiple contending teams have a clear hole in net, and almost none of them filled it. Whether you want to look at how Carolina is an extremely well rounded team except goaltending, how the LA Kings haven’t won a playoff series since prime Johnathan Quick graced them, or how the Devils quite literally took themselves out of playoff contention by not addressing goaltending. Goalies ma...
From Anaheim Calling
| over 1 year ago
| 1 read
December brought with it its usual slate of chilly challenges and the team often struggled to rise to the occasion. With 20 games left, can they do it?
Mar 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala (22, center) celebrates a goal with center Phillip Danault (24) and defenseman Matt Roy (3) during the overtime against the Ottawa Senators at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
February was frosty to the Los Angeles Kings ...
From Jewels From The Crown
| over 1 year ago
| 2 reads
Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images
It’s the King’s tonight. I have this theory on the West. It’s WIDE OPEN. I’m not seeing a clearcut favorite or clearcut easy opponent.
If Vegas and Colorado were at 100% then I’d say them without hesitation.
LA is a beautiful team but the goaltending situation (while slightly improved) isn’t the best.
We have a beautiful group of 4 forwards outscoring opponents and hiding a lot of mistakes. We don’t have a legit go...
From The Copper & Blue
| over 2 years ago
| 1 read
Can the Blues turn around a sinking ship? To say that the Blues’ play as of late has been uninspiring is being very generous. Mired in their longest regulation losing streak since Craig Berube took over as coach, the pressure is on for this team to play as well as they did during the first three games.
Brandon Saad is still out for tonight, but the team has options, and they’ve chosen to exercise them. From stlblues.com, here’re tonight’s lines:
Forwards
Schenn - O’Reilly - Kyrou
Buchn...
From St. Louis Game Time
| about 3 years ago
| 1 read
Photo by Joe Puetz/NHLI via Getty Images
What is going on with this team? It’s been a while since Blues fans have been treated to a stretch of play this putrid. What began as a good effort loss to the Winnipeg Jets last week has slid into an absolute dumpster fire in which it looks like the Blues are actively trying to lose games.
Their 6-2 loss against the Nashville Predators was bad, but their 7-4 loss on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens was atrocious. A blown 3-1 lead sl...
From St. Louis Game Time
| about 3 years ago
| 3 reads
Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
What lines will we see tonight against the Habs? If you saw the news that Pavel Buchnevich was activated from the IR and got very happy about the prospects for tonight’s game, well...
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be in.
He’s getting one more game’s worth of rest before returning Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings, and honestly, a healthy Buchnevich is worth one more game out. Will that make a win again...
From St. Louis Game Time
| about 3 years ago
| 0 reads