Ben Shelley: Kings battle back to defeat Predators in shootout

Enormous character win, particularly for Cal. That's the kind of boost in confidence that will go a long way (I hope!).

Gabe's tied for 4th in the league in scoring. The boy has come a long way. Obviously, he won't maintain a McDavid scoring rate of 1.4 P/G but this is nice to see.

I wish people would cut Byfield a bit more slack. The kid is contributing. On the third goal, he retrieved a puck off a missed shot, won it along the boards with his speed and skating, and got it back up to Gabe on the left point who dished for the primary assist. Byfield seems to get the most heat for his brain and lack of instinct, but that was a smart hockey play to track the puck, retrieve it, and cycle it in the zone for another chance that paid off. He does this quite a bit. Yes, he's subject to brain farts, but he's getting better.

Enormous character win, particularly for Cal. That's the kind of boost in confidence that will go a long way (I hope!).

Gabe's tied for 4th in the league in scoring. The boy has come a long way. Obviously, he won't maintain a McDavid scoring rate of 1.4 P/G but this is nice to see.

I wish people would cut Byfield a bit more slack. The kid is contributing. On the third goal, he retrieved a puck off a missed shot, won it along the boards with his speed and skating, and got it back up to Gabe on the left point who dished for the primary assist. Byfield seems to get the most heat for his brain and lack of instinct, but that was a smart hockey play to track the puck, retrieve it, and cycle it in the zone for another chance that paid off. He does this quite a bit. Yes, he's subject to brain farts, but he's getting better.
- Only_A_Ladd

I don't get the QB hate either. The kid is playing solid hockey with the puck. He shields it well, he handles in a phone booth well, he keeps possessions alive as good as anyone on the team. The offense will come, but for now he's doing everything that DOESN'T show up on the score sheet very well!

Villardi is beasting, but QB has been a part of why Gabe's game is so much better

That Kings 3rd line could be better than just about any 3rd line in the NHL.

Kings probably have 4 of the best lines they have seen since cup days.
It will serve them well as the season goes, if your bottom 2 lines are better than other teams bottom 2 it will result in wins.

Villardi is beasting, but QB has been a part of why Gabe's game is so much better

That Kings 3rd line could be better than just about any 3rd line in the NHL.

Kings probably have 4 of the best lines they have seen since cup days.
It will serve them well as the season goes, if your bottom 2 lines are better than other teams bottom 2 it will result in wins.
- fsanford

Yup. Every single year you see it: a fabulous regular season, top heavy team dazzles to 100+points. Then, in the post season, their bottom 6 and 3rd pair getting eaten up in 1 goal games in a 7 game series and they're eliminated.

IF the Kings' defense starts clicking and Cal builds on yesterday, this team might see a few rounds come April and May.

Yup. Every single year you see it: a fabulous regular season, top heavy team dazzles to 100+points. Then, in the post season, their bottom 6 and 3rd pair getting eaten up in 1 goal games in a 7 game series and they're eliminated.

IF the Kings' defense starts clicking and Cal builds on yesterday, this team might see a few rounds come April and May.
- Only_A_Ladd

On Roy's tying goal I couldn't believe that it was Clarke down low in front of the net with Roy crashing... I haven't seen two Kings Dmen down low like that in many moons... Could've been a disaster, but burying your chance will always negate it.

Villardi is beasting, but QB has been a part of why Gabe's game is so much better
- fsanford

I don't know about that. During preseason, Vilardi had 5 points (most of them while not playing with Byfield) to Byfield's 1 (which did come playing with Vilardi). It seems to me that Vilardi has elevated his own game and Byfield is benefiting from that more than the other way around. Byfield is still making good plays and looking better out there, though.