posted this on Peng's thread:
It was a world-class move on a rookie. Totally baited him in to the check, got him on the outside, spun to the inside all alone. The difference is Neal finished that tweeners where Carter/Toffoli/enter top 6 forwards here, get their shot saved. Flower is outplaying Quick right now. Even the Karlsson goal, their finishers are finishing and ours are shooting wide or getting stopped.
What needs to be addressed by the Kings, and it might be too late to matter, is the sloppy puck handling in their zone. That tying goal was on Carter for not getting it out at the half-wall. led directly to the pressure and the scrambling and the goal. GET THE (frank)ING PUCK OUT!! Too many lazy clearing attempts. I understand the GK forecheck is relentless, I get it, but we're talking about tested veterans hot potato-ing the puck when it isn't necessary.
When the Kings didn't capitalize on the PP that opened the 3rd (or any other for that matter, but this one specifically) I knew they wouldn't hold on. too many chances to take control of the game squandered. Even with more SOGs, the quality of shots just aren't there. Nobody in the slot for rebounds, and only one goal was not a deflection.
Lastly, it really bothered me that the Kings first goal went down the way that it did with the wave off and checking and all that poop. Really killed the momentous moment that I feel should've been something that should've really picked the boys up. They didn't come together on the ice in celebration because of the confusion, the GHK players didn't have to watch them take it in and skate the bench, it wasn't as deflating as it could've been. We'll see what tomorrow brings, but 3-0 is not feeling real good.