Practice 4.18 – Vilardi Skates, Speaks + Practice Notes, Korpisalo’s LAK Playoff Debut, Tradin’ Jabs

Playoff Practice, but do it North of the border.

The Kings hit the ice this afternoon in Edmonton in between Games 1 and 2 of their opening-round series against the Oilers. Playoff practices are interesting, because you’re pretty much beyond a point where you’re going to make sweeping changes or corrections. Most of those adjustments are made via video at this stage in the game. While the extended gap between Games 5 and 6, should the series extend there, could prove to be different, that’s the outlier, not the norm.

Today’s skate was a highly optional skate for the group as a whole. Most of the higher-minute players for the Kings did not skate today, with the on-ice group consisting of guys in the bottom six and those who did not play in Game 1. Coming off an overtime game the night before, that isn’t the least bit surprising.

An attendance, for those keeping track at home –

Forwards: Anderson-Dolan, Grundstrom, Kaliyev, Kupari, Laferriere, Lizotte, MacEwen, Vilardi
Defenseman: Walker
Goaltenders: Copley, Hrenak

Wait Vilardi? Vilardi!

Serves you right for speculating! Speaking yesterday, Todd McLellan, with a half smile, answered “they could be” when asked if Kevin Fiala and Gabe Vilardi were in Edmonton with the team. Now, this morning, here is Vilardi skating with the group in advance of Game 2, in a regular jersey. This isn’t a guarantee that Vilardi plays tomorrow but it is a possibility and having him here and around the team is a good sign. Even if it’s not Game 2, he’s progressing and is in the mix throughout the course of the series. More on that below.

Outside of the presence of number 13, players got what they needed and got off. Nothing crazy as everyone did their thing to prepare for Game 2 tomorrow evening.

Notes –
The Gabe-A-Goul
Goooooooooood to see you, Gabe.

Gabe Vilardi ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶E̶d̶m̶o̶n̶t̶o̶n̶ is on the ice for practice in Edmonton in a regular jersey 🇮🇹

Small group overall today for the @LAKings after the overtime tilt last night.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) April 18, 2023

Forward Gabe Vilardi has progressed from a non-contact jersey to a mysterious location to now a regular white jersey today, as he was among those skating during the short practice at Rogers Place.

Vilardi has not played since March 26 against the St. Louis Blues, but in his own words he believes he is ready to go.

“I’m feeling good, I’ve joined the team again. I am ready to play.”

It’s been a bit of a process for Vilardi, though not necessarily one he is unfamiliar with. It’s been well documented that he had his share of injuries early in his career but he’s managed them well and is at least familiar with the process. He highlighted the team that the Kings have in place to help treat and manage injuries as being key for him during his recovery.

“It’s part of the game, you get injured and you try to recover as fast as you can,” Vilardi said this morning. “I’ve got a lot of people in the organization that have helped me out, I’m pretty grateful for that. We’re lucky that we have a great team that can help the guys when they need it, when they get hurt.”

The player feeling good is probably the most important step to Vilardi eventually returning to the lineup. So, to hear him say that this afternoon was a net positive.

McLellan repeated today what he’s said several times leading up to the postseason – when Gabe Vilardi (and Kevin Fiala for that matter) is ready to play, he will be in the lineup. He reiterated that point today, while acknowledging that Vilardi talking about his health the way that he has is a positive for sure.

“The best thing that can happen is a player saying that he’s ready, but there are also other things that have to go through their protocol and sign off on it,” McLellan added.

Vilardi indicated that he arrived in Edmonton last night and watched Game 1 with his teammates. He flew in from Los Angeles and met the team at the rink, taking in the bulk of the game in the press box before eventually going into the locker room and watching the overtime session with his teammates. He called it a “crazy fun” third period, especially highlighting the atmosphere and how good it was to see the Kings rise to the challenge and complete the comeback in the third period. He expressed excitement about checking into that atmosphere when it happens and hopefully making an impact on the group and the series when that time comes.

No firm commitment from player or coach that Vilardi would be in tomorrow’s lineup, but a feeling healthy Gabe Vilardi is a positive step forward for the LA Kings. More to follow in tomorrow’s game preview if Vilardi does indeed feel on track to play.

Goal-Korpi-ng
Not a bad LA Kings playoff debut for goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, was it?

37 saves on 40 shots, including several on dangerous looks down the stretch to keep the Kings in the game. The Kings had been coy leading into the game regarding which goaltender would get the nod. Korpisalo said this afternoon that he was told the day before Game 1 that he would be the starter, with Todd McLellan confirming the decision publicly yesterday morning.

McLellan spoke on the rationale behind Korpisalo getting the Game 1 nod earlier this afternoon, highlighting his track record, his playoff experience and the team’s comfort level playing in front of him, though he was still quick not to forget about Pheonix Copley, who the group shares comfort level with.

“[Korpisalo] has a pretty good track record in the playoffs, a really good track record versus some high-end talent,” McLellan said. “He led a team to an upset in a series. He played well from the minute he arrived here with our team, our team feels comfortable with him. With that answer, I’m always going to tag Copley because he’s an important part of our team and he was a big part of getting us to this opportunity to play at this time here. We feel, again, comfortable that both of them are capable of playing and we may need both of them.”

Yesterday’s game did not necessarily go according to the script for the Kings. They certainly wanted a stronger first period and they certainly did not want to concede the game’s first two goals. When it got to 2-0, and then to 3-1, Korpisalo’s mindset was very simple – give his team a chance to win.

There were several times when a two-goal deficit could have become greater. The Kings made defensive plays to negate some of those opportunities but Korpisalo was called upon on numerous occasions, with his team trailing by two, to make a save. Each time in that moment, he answered the bell.

“When you’re trailing, you don’t want to let it get to be more than two goals,” Korpisalo said today. “I just tried to make those big saves to keep the team in it and that’s all I tried to do yesterday.”

Korpisalo is no stranger to the postseason, though this was his first go around playing in a building with fans in attendance.

His playoff experience came during the 2020 bubble season, where he played behind closed doors with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He did enjoy the fact that last night’s game went just one overtime period, naturally in reference to the five-overtime thriller he played three years ago, answering with a smile he was happy with the earlier end time. When speaking about the atmosphere of Game 1, Korpisalo called it an enjoyable experience, what he and the group has worked for.

“I think that’s something you’ve got to enjoy, it’s fun to play in these games,” he said. “It’s about building [our play] and I think we were ready for that.”

A good start to the process here in LA for Korpisalo, though both he and the team know that more will be needed from here on out, for the Kings to progress to where they ultimately want to progress to. For now, he’s along for the process and ready to go when his number is called.

“It’s why we practice all summer and all season. We’re ready for these games.”

Tradin Jabs – Round 1
Lastly, Insiders, a series preview episode of Tradin’ Jabs, as LAKI contributing writer Jack Jablonski talks with Kings analysts Jim Fox and Daryl Evans regarding the Round 1 matchup.

Naturally, this was shot prior to Game 1, but it’s a series and not a game, so the content still plays! Worth a watch or a listen – your choice – as you continue to prepare for Game 2 tomorrow evening.

Another story to follow tonight, Insiders! The LA Kings, despite trailing for the entire game, stuck to the script and it paid off in the comeback victory. A look inside how and why they followed that path, from the players and coaches who were involved. All to follow in tonight’s Game 2 lead-in feature story.