***LA Kings @ Colorado Avalanche GDT Friday 3/12/21 6:00pm on FSW***
Official Game Day Thread
Game #26/56 -- 3/12/21
Los Angeles Kings @ Colorado Avalanche
Ball Arena | Denver, CO
HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER NIGHT
Previous Meetings:
01/21/21 Avalanche 2, Kings 4
01/19/21 Avalanche 3, Kings 2
Facts on the Fly courtesy of Rawley19
TV:**Fox Sports West**
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 3/10/21
Troy Grosenick Video Interview & More on LA Kings Insider - click here
Game #26/56 -- 3/12/21
Los Angeles Kings @ Colorado Avalanche
Ball Arena | Denver, CO
HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER NIGHT
Previous Meetings:
01/21/21 Avalanche 2, Kings 4
01/19/21 Avalanche 3, Kings 2
**GAME TIME - >>>6:00 PM<<<**
Facts on the Fly courtesy of Rawley19
TV:**Fox Sports West**
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 3/10/21
Troy Grosenick Video Interview & More on LA Kings Insider - click here
Todd McLellan
On Troy Grosenicks performance, especially considering the circumstances:
When we signed him in the summer, we were excited about having him. I was lucky enough to spend some time with him in San Jose, hes got a lot of character, he just wanted an opportunity to get a game in here or there. Tonight, it presented itself and he took advantage of it. Really good for him and the guys played hard for him. I think it was a bit of a motivating factor, to get off to a better start. He made a save pretty early in the game, they made a pass out from behind the net, he made a save there, and after that he just settled in. It was good to see and certainly not easy circumstances. For as little as hes played this season, with all his travels and quarantine, good for him.
On if he feels that a team playing behind a new goaltender can tighten up the defense:
I think thats accurate. I think, a lot of times, teams play with a goaltender or for a goaltender, and I think its more valuable when they play for a goaltender. Tonight, I think we played for him, and tightened it up a bit. It wasnt mistake free, but thats an impossible game. When we did break down, he made some nice saves.
On getting the win in regulation tonight:
Its nice to be able to play with a lead. I think you learn a lot about some of your players when games are tight, or youre in overtime, but you also learn a lot about your players when youre up four or five one. Do they get loose, do they get casual, can they check in those situations? For the most part, a lot of our guys passed that test tonight.
On Andreas Athanasiou, and his performance versus expectations:
We expected to get a hungry player, I think I used those words when we signed him. I thought wed have a really motivated young man that wanted to prove to himself and to the hockey world that he wasnt a one-hit wonder, that he was able to come in and do what hes done in the past. We were prepared to give him the opportunity, and it was up to him to take advantage of it. Offensively, weve seen great flashes from him. His speed and his elusiveness have been effective for us in those situations, and were working on the checking part. Hes beginning to value it more, and I feel more and more comfortable about playing him in checking situations. Thats going to continue to grow, where we trust him all over the rink. When he gets that, hes really going to be a factor.
On Troy Grosenicks performance, especially considering the circumstances:
When we signed him in the summer, we were excited about having him. I was lucky enough to spend some time with him in San Jose, hes got a lot of character, he just wanted an opportunity to get a game in here or there. Tonight, it presented itself and he took advantage of it. Really good for him and the guys played hard for him. I think it was a bit of a motivating factor, to get off to a better start. He made a save pretty early in the game, they made a pass out from behind the net, he made a save there, and after that he just settled in. It was good to see and certainly not easy circumstances. For as little as hes played this season, with all his travels and quarantine, good for him.
On if he feels that a team playing behind a new goaltender can tighten up the defense:
I think thats accurate. I think, a lot of times, teams play with a goaltender or for a goaltender, and I think its more valuable when they play for a goaltender. Tonight, I think we played for him, and tightened it up a bit. It wasnt mistake free, but thats an impossible game. When we did break down, he made some nice saves.
On getting the win in regulation tonight:
Its nice to be able to play with a lead. I think you learn a lot about some of your players when games are tight, or youre in overtime, but you also learn a lot about your players when youre up four or five one. Do they get loose, do they get casual, can they check in those situations? For the most part, a lot of our guys passed that test tonight.
On Andreas Athanasiou, and his performance versus expectations:
We expected to get a hungry player, I think I used those words when we signed him. I thought wed have a really motivated young man that wanted to prove to himself and to the hockey world that he wasnt a one-hit wonder, that he was able to come in and do what hes done in the past. We were prepared to give him the opportunity, and it was up to him to take advantage of it. Offensively, weve seen great flashes from him. His speed and his elusiveness have been effective for us in those situations, and were working on the checking part. Hes beginning to value it more, and I feel more and more comfortable about playing him in checking situations. Thats going to continue to grow, where we trust him all over the rink. When he gets that, hes really going to be a factor.
Subject To Change
FORWARDS
GOALIES
Troy Grosenick
Matthew Villalta
Petersen - Covid protocol list
Jarret Anderson-Dolan also on IR
__________________________________________________
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Avalanche Probable Lineup
(courtesy of www2.dailyfaceoff.com)
FORWARDS
No Former Kings
_________________________________________
GOALIE COMPARISONS
PLAYER STATS
HONDA WEST DIVISION STANDINGS
Tonights Poll Question:
Just a 1-part question tonight. (Trying not to jinx anything)
The Avalanche are 2nd in Shots For per Game, and the Kings are 22nd. How many TOTAL SHOTS will there be in this game?
+/- 3 will get 1 point, +/- 1 will get 2 points, and exactly correct will get 3 points.
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 Games Winners
Congratulations to the following posters who correctly guessed the Kings would miraculously hold a lead for 56:14 and/or that Kopitar would score the second goal of the game. forum gold and KHenry14 both missed by a mere 74 seconds, and both also guessed Kopitar for 2 points:
58:14-54:14 (1 point)
forum gold
KHenry14
Kopitar (1point)
jammer06
CIrvine
cokingsfan
AngelEyes
Helvetica
Rawley19
empire
Histiking
forum gold
hokiecat
JETS GARAGE
MaxwellSmart
LeftyKing
notbob
pray4mojo
hornman
Stormy2213
Liz4LA
waynet
KHenry14
dannybuoy1
Poll Win Totals
Kings Of The Mountain with 19 points:
hokiecat
18 points
Rusty
17 points
Helvetica
16 points
AngelEyes
CIrvine
cokingsfan
Dr. Tran
Liz4LA
15 points
MaxwellSmart
notbob
VegasHockey
14 points
LeftyKing
13 points
Stormy2213
12 points
Chateau Bow Wow
KHenry14
John a90
Rogie-Vachon
VCRW
11 points
forum gold
hornman
pray4mojo
TooCool
10 points
Clif
dannybuoy1
DRGinLBC
jammer06
srm1105
9 points
MBreeden
sonnyboy11
waynet
8 points
JETS GARAGE
SirJW
7 points
JayWells24
Joe Lavigueur
kingsmen93
Puckmaster
Rawley19
6 points
Nyssa42
Sevenhole
5 points
Histiking
Ice24
4 points
empire
Ragbone
3 points
05/29/93
FAN4LIFE
Greg33
LAKingSteve
Zombitar
2 points
Busted Chops
Byron
NobleSavage
1 point
beady eye
Dexter
Dirtweazle
Ecktore
jom
randdog
STONE
***Bet your karma in geogirls KARMA BETTING THREAD HERE***
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Photos courtesy of nhl.com.