Ryan Smyth?? Noooo......

Connie just texted me that the Kings traded for Ryan Smyth and I can't say I'm thrilled about it. TSN doesn't have much info about the trade yet and I suppose my sick to the stomach feeling stems from the fear that the Kings gave up too much for him. I suppose only time will tell if this trade is a good one, but right now I don't have a good feeling about this one.

Him? Really?

Continue Reading >>

2009 NHL Entry Draft

I really wanted Brayden Schenn to be a King when I saw him sitting with his brother during the 2008 Draft. The analysts talked a bit about the younger Schenn and how he would definitely be a good pick in 2009. With the Kings in the 5th spot there wasn't much hype surrounding this year's draft so I hardly paid much attention to it. I figured the Kings wouldn't be able to draft Tavares or Hedman so I'm glad they were able to snag Schenn (and hopefully piss off the evil Burke).

According to the Kings report:

In 70 games with Brandon, the native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, scored 32 goals and 56 assists for 88 along with 82 minutes and an impressive plus-20 rating. Schenn was outstanding in the postseason, totaling 8 goals and 18 points in 12 playoff games. He also earned a reputation as a standout two-way player with the kind of game that can succeed in the playoffs -- something the Kings haven't made since the 2001-02 season.

In the Kings Q&A with Schenn he described what he can bring to the team:

A two-way game. I am a forward who has some grit and I see the ice pretty well. The main thing is that I play physical. I bring an all-around game.

So far there's no indication that he's a shoo-in for the '09-'10 roster but he's someone who can develop into a player that the Kings need, a solid two-way forward who can score. The Kings have definitely placed a large emphasis on defense and some players (*cough* Frolov *cough*) were essentially punished for not playing defensively enough.

Continue Reading >>

Pens Win It All in '09

Wow, I did not expect the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Cup this year.

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Hey Hossa, where's your Cup?

I still can't believe how awesome the ending was to this series with Lidstrom unable to tie the game in the final seconds as Fleury threw himself into the shot for the Cup winning save. Unreal.

You gotta hand it to the Pens because it seemed like from the start of the series Detroit was going to stomp all over them. Even though I was rooting for Detroit during the entire playoffs, it was nice to see another team dethrone the Wings. So...where will Hossa end up next season?

Continue Reading >>

Crawford is Back Behind the Bench

Of course it was a matter of time before a team hired Marc Crawford but I definitely did not expect the Dallas Stars to fire Dave Tippet and immediately hire Crow in his place. Crow may have a winning record as a coach but I still can get past how horrible the Kings played in front of him for two seasons. I also can't get over how infuriating it was to see him play Cloutier over and over again, forcing the idea that he was the Kings' number one netminder when it was crystal clear that he wasn't. I'm not saying that any of the other 307 backups/replacements should have been the clear cut Number 1, but Cloutier should have earned that spot and not had it handed to him.

The Dallas Stars are very different team than the LA Kings, but as Cat points out in her assessment of the hiring, the Stars have a number of youngsters who are still in the learning process and bunch of veterans, in particular Mike Modano, who are now in a different role on the team. I do wish the Stars the best considering they're my second favorite Pacific Division team and hopefully with Marc Crawford guiding the team they'll be able to help the Kings by taking down the Sharks and Ducks.

Continue Reading >>

Stanley Cup Finals: What is wrong with NBC?

What is up with NBCs lighting during the Stanley Cup Finals? Ever single game on NBC this series has been on the verge of being unwatchable, and I'm talking Fox Sports Network unwatchable. If I wasn't a hockey fan I would not watch these games. Each game (and each period) starts out perfectly fine. But as the period goes on, the lighting in certain parts of the ice become so glaringly bright that you cannot even see the lines (red line, blue line, circle, and faceoff dots) painted on the ice. I noticed that in Detroit the glare is at center ice, but in Pittsburgh the glare is at each end, with the "home shoots twice" end having the most glare. I haven't read any complaints on the blogosphere and I'm trying to figure out why no one else has mentioned it. After the first two games in Detroit I thought it could have been my TV but the next two games in Pittsburgh that were televised on Versus were lit well. The following two games on NBC, one in Detroit and the other in Pittsburgh, had the same glare issue. You may think that the whiter the ice the better it is to see the puck, but the ice isn't just whiter, there's a glare to it so that the puck gets momentarily lost as it moves through the "glare" zones. Has anyone else noticed this problem??

(x-posted to HLOG)

Continue Reading >>

Havlat gets Kronwall'd

I enjoy big hits like any other crazy hockey fan, but the emotional, sympathetic human side of me does appear when things look scary.  Case in point, when Havlat got absolutely destroyed by Kronwall in tonight's game that eventually ended in OT with the 'Hawks finally getting a win over Detroit.  

When I first saw the hit happen it just looked like a big hit a la Scott Stevens on Eric Lindros, but Havlat's motionless body was gut-wrenching, much much worse than when Umberger was leveled three years ago by Brian Campbell. I mean seriously, who didn't get nervous watching Havlat look like a rag doll while the guys on the ice tried to dish out deserving retaliations. I still don't know how Havlat was capable of getting off the ice without the aid of a stretcher.

As for the game itself, I'm not sure if I should be amazed that Detroit can play half a game and be this close to winning it or that they're not up 3-0 in this series. Because of the hit, it was good to see the 'Hawks win this game, especially at home, but Detroit is definitely moving onto the Cup Finals. Continue Reading >>

'Canes and Wings

AP Photo

Yeah, Carolina!!!

My mindset for Game 6 in both of these series was "I'm going to lose my sh*t if the Ducks/Bruins win". However, today I had a feeling that the teams I was rooting for, the 'Canes and the Wings, were going to win. No question, these games were in the bag.

Was anyone else concerned that one of the two Game 7 games was going to be a huge disappointing blowout like the embarrassing one-sided Pens/Caps Game 7? Both games tonight were very exciting and I was worried for awhile during the Carolina/Boston OT that both teams looked so equally matched that it was very possible for the game to enter multiple OT frames.

I only caught the final 5 minutes of the Wings/Ducks Game 7 and was shocked to find the score tied at 3, especially considering I left work with the knowledge that the Wings had a 2-0 lead. I was even more stunned to see how slowly both teams were moving. It looked like Zetterberg's skates were frozen to the ice. Getzlaf lumberly skated with the puck. It appeared that the game was going to head into 3 lifeless overtimes until Cleary ended the deadlock with the game winner. I expected Anaheim to fight like hell in the final minutes, but they still looked slow and didn't have any extra jump normally associated with a team that has a one-goal deficit in the waning seconds of a Game 7.

AP Photo

awwwww, B-Stu!!

I know some people didn't really want Detroit to win because they're Detroit and always win, but I was rooting for Detroit and not just because I cannot stand the Ducks. During the regular season I get annoyed with Detroit winning, but during the playoffs I feel the need to give credit where it is due and Detroit never fails to deliver good hockey. But don't get me wrong, it felt A.W.E.S.O.M.E. to see the Ducks get eliminated.

~~~

I still don't understand my obsession with the Carolina Hurricanes but I wanted them to win this series so badly. They didn't look very good in the two games where they surrendered a total of 8 goals, but they played well in the others. Like a lot of hot goalies in the playoffs, when Cam Ward is on he can absolutely steal games (and steal your heart because he's just so damn adorable!). It's crazy that he has never lost a playoff series. He'll eventually lose one, but I still think he's going to lead the 'Canes to the Cup Finals.

AP Photo

In case you haven't figured it out, I haven't changed my initial predictions for the Cup Finals:
Detroit v. Carolina

Continue Reading >>

'08-'09 Playoffs: 2nd Round

If I was a true Carolina fan, I would have been rioting the streets of Raleigh the other night. But as it is, I'm only a fan of Carolina when it comes to the playoffs so instead of wreaking havoc on an already shitty city, I just jumped up and down and squealed like a schoolgirl when I saw on Versus's ticker that Carolina had tied the game. Then I lost my shit when I saw on the Yahoo Sports boxscore that Carolina won the game just seconds after tying it. I can't even imagine what true Carolina fans feel like. I mean, that kind of awesome isn't supposed to happen when you're on the road in the playoffs in Game 7. It only would have been more ridiculous if it had happened in the Cup Finals. Brodeur must feel like how Marty Turco does every time he steps foot in Staples Center and blows a multi-goal lead...times 1,000. It's not that I wanted to see Jersey fail, as I did so viciously with San Jose, it's just that I really wanted Carolina to advance.

On to the Second Round Predictions!

Eastern Conference

(1) Boston v. (6) Carolina

Prediction: I have no idea what Boston is capable of considering I've only seen them play for 6 minutes when they lost to the Kings in March. But I'm sticking with Carolina!


(2) Washington v. (4) Pittsburgh

Prediction: I'm still recovering from Avery being knocked out of the playoffs. I'm rooting for Pittsburgh.



Western Conference

(2) Detroit v. (8) Anaheim

Prediction: I think we can all agree that Anaheim is one of the strongest eighth seeds ever. Still though, Anaheim knew how to handle San Jose, but I don't think they can keep up with the Wings. Detroit all the way.


(3) Vancouver v. (4) Chicago

Prediction: OMG, did anyone see Jokinen in the post-game/series conference? Woah, HD does not do him any favors....oh, by the way, Vancouver advances.

Continue Reading >>

'08-'09 Sharks....Hahahaha

I'm sure it was my emotions that convinced me the Sharks would never make it to the Stanley Cup Finals, but I objectively decided once the match-ups were determined that the Anaheim Ducks would eliminate and embarrass the Sharks. I figured that the only two teams capable of beating the Sharks were the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks. How fitting that St. Louis would have a miraculously run to end the season and land in the 6th spot, leaving the Ducks to face off against the Sharks.

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
San Jose, it's called "The JR Curse"

So what feels worse? Being a fan of a team that never makes the playoffs or rooting for a team that has a 53-18-11 record that includes only 9 total losses at home, wins the President's Trophy, boasts an incredible lineup of Thornton, Cheechoo, Marleau, Boyle, Blake, Nabokov, Pavelski, and, don't forget, Mr. Claude Lemieux and Jeremy Roenick, that seems on paper to be a lock for the Cup, but the only award they go home with is the "Biggest Chokers Ever" award? At least I know what to expect from my team. Thank you LA Kings for not leading me on.

And in case you haven't noticed, I don't think there is anything wrong with rooting for a team to fail. Anaheim is next on my list and I think Detroit will kick them out of the playoffs in 6.

Continue Reading >>

2009 Playoffs: Round 1 Predictions!

It's been ages since I last posted! Before I write about the Kings ending their season, here are my predictions for the first round of the 2009 Playoffs:

West:
Anaheim over San Jose
Detroit over Columbus (Detroit is headed to the Finals)
St. Louis over Vancouver
Calgary over Blackhawks (I bet Cammalleri will have 11 goals in this matchup...ugh.)

East:
Boston over Montreal
Capitals over Rangers
Carolina over Devils (I'm saying it now, Carolina is going to the Cup Finals)
Pittsburgh over Philly


When real life stops getting in the way, I'll have a more in-depth post about something hockey related, preferably about the Kings. Continue Reading >>

Kings 1, Sharks 2 (SO)

7 rounds. 7. I'm impressed the Kings made it through 3 rounds without losing and it's such a heartbreaker to see them lose to the San Jose Sharks in the 7th round of the shootout. Kopitar hit the post, Jack snipered one in, Doughty had 1,000 touches but Nabokov never flinched, Brown ran out of room and never got a final whack on the puck, Frolov shot it wide, Handzus, who I was positive was going to end it, did something unremarkable, and Purcell had to tie it to keep it going but failed when Nabokov got his pads on it.

The guys played alright tonight. They definitely looked outplayed in the first and third periods, but were thankfully able to score the equalizer in the second period. They held their own and despite having to play frantic defense for a lot of the game they came out with one point. The Kings penalty kill did a fantastic job of keeping the puck out of the net on 8 Sharks power plays, but Ersberg is probably the one who deserves the most credit since the guy was phenomenal tonight.

What is Marleau doing?

San Jose's goal came off a shot from just inside the blueline that was perfectly deflected by Michalek. When the play happened it looked like Ersberg didn't even move as the puck sailed past him. On the replay it was clearly visible that Ersberg didn't have a chance on that one. This game could have easily ended in the middle of the third period but Ersberg continued to stonewall the Sharks with huge saves. A tiny step to advance the Kings in the standings and hopefully a slight confidence booster knowing they can play with the top team.

Continue Reading >>

Ersberg in Directv Commercial

Not sure if this commercial is national or only shown locally but Erik Ersberg is in a DIRECTV commercial.

I don't know how long it's been on the air but I first heard about it today from my fiance and I saw it today when I was watching an episode of 'Friday Night Lights' that I recorded from last Friday. First Aubin, now Ersberg. How many other Kings goaltenders are in the pipeline to be in a commercial?

And speaking of 'Friday Night Lights', Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton have got to be the absolute best married TV couple. They are amazing together on-screen. And how many of you got teary-eyed when Tim Riggins realized he lost his best friend to the NYC? It's so heart breaking watching Tim Riggins get emotional.

x-posted to HLOG Continue Reading >>

O'Sullivan Out, Williams In

Well, I can't say I'm shocked O'Sullivan was traded since I had a feeling on the eve of the trade deadline that he could be moved. The more I thought about Sully the more I came to believe that he wasn't one of Lombardi's "core players", something I've been questioning since the off-season when it took months and months for Sully and the Kings to come to terms on a contract.

He missed most of training camp, which caused him to begin the season not on the same line with his old linemates, Brown and Kopitar. I took Sully's lack of instant chemistry with his linemates (and he had plenty) as a sign that he was rusty from not having been at training camp. But the more he was shifted around the lineup the more I began to think his time in LA was limited. He began to look like Cammalleri Version 2.0; had a strong outing in one season, demanded a high-paying contract, lacked the same production the following season, and was on the down and out with the fanbase.

The Kings have a lot of players around Sully's age and Lombardi always stressed the importance of having enough players at different stages of their careers. Justin Williams is on the older end of the age scale and has more successful outings than O'Sullivan. He has a lot more experience than Sully and when he's not injured, he's a fantastic player. Along with Brind'Amour, Cole, and Staal, Williams was one of the core players that was instrumental in bringing the Cup to Carolina. In the first year of the "New NHL" I was very taken with that Carolina team and was impressed with Williams' play, specifically in the playoffs since that's when I watched him the most. He reminds me of Handzus, but more of a goal-scorer.

The good 'J. Williams'

I'm sad to see Sully go, especially since he made huge strides between his rookie season and first full NHL year. He has the potential to be a great goal scorer but the Kings will benefit from having a bigger player who already is the player the Kings need. My excitement for him is almost as big as when the Kings signed Handzus. I can't wait to see him in a Kings jersey.

Continue Reading >>

Kings World Podcast: Episode 31

In this week's episode of Kings World Podcast, Connie and I are joined by Greener of the blog, He Score, He Shoot. Our intelligent discussion of the Kings, Leafs, and NHL trades is intermittently interrupted by background noise since we were podcasting outside a local Starbucks. In addition to the usual game reviews and previews, Greener gives us the lowdown of his confusion over Wayne Simmonds being in the NHL and his mancrush for Mats Sundin, Connie lets us in on her dream of encountering Matt Moulson, and I excitedly discuss the return of Sean Avery to the NHL.

Please send all feedback, questions, and comments to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com. Continue Reading >>

Kings 5, Stars 4 (OT)

Thanks Yahoo! for not refreshing the boxscore and making me think for 4 hours that the Kings lost 4-3 tonight (I wish I had evidence of this). Only now did I finally go to the Yahoo! NHL homepage to find out that the Kings beat the Stars 5-4 in Overtime. For a second I thought there was another reporting error, like the one where Jack Johnson was called 'Jackson', because the whole night I was upset thinking the Kings had lost and were edging closer to the Western Conference basement floor.

Another 'Thank You' goes to the local LA TV stations for not broadcasting this game; Gotta love it when home games aren't televised.

This win is quite amazing because the Kings came from behind, Kopitar tied it up with 14 seconds left in regulation, and then Handzus clinched the winner with a Hat Trick! How sweet is it to have the game winner be your hat trick. Awesome.

AP PhotoI told you he would be good this year. I heart Handzus.

So Handzus had 3 goals tonight, Frolov and Kopitar each had 1 goal and 2 assists and Doughty had 2 assists. Kopitar may not be scoring as many goals this season compared to last year but he's definitely netting the clutch goals. How many game tying goals in the waning seconds does he have this season? I think I can count three within the past month. Kopi is such a stud.

Continue Reading >>

Season Over.

After losing to Chicago on Sunday and then losing again tonight to Columbus, the Kings season is over. Done. Fini. When I can't get excited about watching a game, I just know it's over.

The Kings have 21 games remaining this season but I don't think it's possible for them to win enough games to secure the eighth playoff spot in the West. Especially considering the way they've been playing as of late and how well some of the teams they're chasing have been playing. When the Kings play solid defense, they can't score. Yet when they find the back of the net they don't play well on defense. They won't finish last in the league or 29th, but I am worried that if they don't shape up soon they may find themselves sitting in last place in the Western Conference.

And to make matters worse, Jason LaBarbera is Mr. March in the Kings calendar; I'm going to have to replace him with someone else...probably Frolov.

The trade deadline is tomorrow. I didn't expect the Kings to be very active before tonight's game occurred and now that they lost the game, I definitely don't expect anything big. The team is in a selling position but the players most teams would want will not be traded unless it's an unbelievable deal that would have several highly touted prospects and/or high draft picks coming to LA. I could definitely see Kyle Calder being traded because he's a very gritty, in-your-face player that isn't afraid to go in the corners and do the dirty work. He hasn't taken as many dumb penalties lately and has proven that he can play well and even notch some points.

The only player I could see being dealt that would probably shock fans is Patrick O'Sullivan. He had an incredibly long contract dispute with the team over the off-season and he hasn't thrived offensively this year compared to last season (sounds a little too much like the Cammalleri situation). He's been shuffled around the lineup playing anywhere from the top line with Kopi and Brown to the fourth line. He's currently on the checking line with Handzus and Simmonds. He's a solid player but hasn't regained the scoring touch he had last year. However, the Kings have him for one more year on the cheaps, which is a pretty big reason to keep him.

Overall, I don't expect much to happen in LA tomorrow, probably just one minor trade. But, of course, I'll be glued to the interwebs all day, checking to see which teams go all in hoping to make the one crucial trade that will help them win the Cup.

(x-posted to HLOG) Continue Reading >>

Kings World Podcast - Episode 30

The Kings went 1-2-0 in the past week and I am not a happy camper. Connie is a little more optimistic but you can definitely sense our disappointment in this week's Kings World Podcast episode. We were pleased the Kings beat the Wild (in a shootout!!) but were sad to see them fall to Philly and Detroit. We wonder who will step up and be the go-to goal scorer on the team because the Kings need to put up some goals.

We preview this week's games against Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, and Minnesota and how the results from the first two games will impact their position at the Trade Deadline.

Please give us some feedback or direct questions to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.

Enjoy! Continue Reading >>

Kings 4, Ducks 3

All day I kept thinking that if the Kings beat the Ducks tonight then they would make the playoffs. I was a nervous nelly for parts of the game but Kings fans can thank Scotty Neidermayer for the win tonight. Thank you, Scotty, for being a complete idiot and running into Quick with a Pronger-esque elbow. Although, I doubt Pronger was proud of the hit because if Scotty had executed the move how Pronger showed him, Quick's helmet would have come off. Regardless, Kings capitalized on Scotty's laziness and lack of composure.

For all the griping I do about listening to ridiculous comments and questions from non-hockey fans, having to listen to Brian Hayward on the TV broadcast is infinitely more aggravating. Here's a text exchange between me and my brother regarding our dislike of Hayward and the Ducks (extra notes in italics):

Bro: F**k. I HATE the Ducks. (This was sent after the Ducks scored their third goal)

Me: Haha, I hate them more and more every time I watch them play

Bro: Is Bob Miller announcing any channel? I cannot f**king stand Brian Gayward. I'm at [girlfriend's] place so she only has basic cable.

Me: No because it is in Anaheim. These announcers are terrible. (Not being able to listen to Bob Miller while watching the Kings should be illegal)

Bro: Seriously. I wonder if Anaheim fans hate Jim Foxx (not quite sure why there are two x's). Because that's stupid - Jim Foxx (again with the 2 x's) is unbeatable. It's not possible. Science has proved it.

Bro: Phew! F**k yeah! (after the Kings won)

Bro: Ugh. Brian Gayward just said that getzlaf was the best player on the ice. What a joke. And that's why I hate the ducks.

Me: Getzlaf is so gross (seriously, have you seen him try to smile? And that hair....blech) and Gayward is so f'ing retarded. I am so glad they won.

As you can tell, (a) we're definitely related, (b) we're quite mature with our descriptions, and (c) we're 100% correct about Brian Hayward. How is he still on the Ducks broadcast?

So the Kings won tonight....now about those playoffs...On one hand I don't really see the Kings as a playoff team, but on the other hand, if Columbus is hanging onto a playoff spot, then the Kings can get in there too. No way the BJs are a better team than the Kings. Continue Reading >>

Kings 6, Thrashers 7 (SO)

F, F, F, F, etc. Sucks to see them lose in the shootout after coming back from a three goal deficit twice. (In case you didn't see my thoughts during the game, here are my mid-game notes from after the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods.)

The Kings need to learn to be composed and play smart during the first period so they don't find themselves playing catch up the rest of the game, something they've done in the past three games. They played a terrible first half of the first period and had several other breakdowns throughout the game that led to goals, but other than that, they played well. The power play was clicking tonight and Ersberg had a decent game, especially considering he hasn't played since January. He kept the Kings in the game with saves on two breakaways. Ersberg and Quick deserved a better outing from the rest of the squad.

Focusing on the positives, it was quite something to watch this team fight all game long trying to tie it. I was this close to turning off the game not only when Atlanta went up 3-0, but also when they went up 6-3. However, I kept thinking the Kings could still come back and I just couldn't bring myself to change the channel. Even though they lost in shootout, like Saturday's game against the Oilers, it was amazing watching these guys tie it as the clock ticked down. While the Kings really need to get two points in each game they can't afford to walk away with zero, so sending the game to OT is absolutely imperative. The Kings are still on the playoff bubble and watching them attempt to tie it with an empty net on the opposite end of the rink makes it seem like I'm watching a playoff game. The playoff hunt isn't over yet. Now, if only the Kings can find a way to win shootouts.

This has nothing to do with the Kings, but I just couldn't resist the caption.

Continue Reading >>

Kings 6, Thrashers 6: end of regulation

Kopitar tied it with 5 seconds left in the game!!
WTF?!!?!?!?
This game is so incredibly ridiculous.
Unreal.

Continue Reading >>

Kings 3, Thrashers 5: End of the 2nd

Just when it looked the Kings were going to tie the game and Ersberg was going to part the sea, the Thrashers pissed on the Kings' comeback party by scoring a shorthanded goal in the waning seconds of the second period.

It's the second intermission and Zack Bogosian just called Mathieu Schneider his best friend during an interview with FSN correspondent Patrick O'Neal. Dude, isn't that Schneider guy ancient? Schneider the Mentor? Totally Understandable. Schneider the Best Friend to a kid born in the '90s? C.R.E.E.P.Y.

And speaking of Bogosian, he's pretty easy on the eyes. Connie warned me before the TV broadcast began that my TV might melt if the camera focused on him too much. I finally figured out who he reminds me of: the actor who played Jack O'Callahan in the most awesomest US sports movie ever made, 'Miracle' (and if you don't agree, you don't deserve to live in the best country in the world).

Bogosian and "Jack O'Callahan" (aka Michael Matenuto)
Similarity? They're both hot stuff

Continue Reading >>

Kings 2, Thrashers 4: End of the 1st

Ummm....what is happening?! It's like the world has come to an end.

When I found out the Ducks lost to Atlanta last night by a score of 8-4 I laughed my arse off. Now I want to cry. I don't know when I felt worse: when Atlanta opened the scoring, when they went up 3-0, or scored their 4th goal approximately 30 seconds after Jack got the Kings on the board.

This sucks! At least there are two more periods for the Kings to allow 4 more goals to take the lead.

C'mon guys, win this game. Don't make the kitties cry.

Continue Reading >>

Kings World Podcast - Episode 28

Wooo! Another episode of Kings World Podcast! This week Connie and I aren't as enthusiastic as we were last week, but we're still positive considering the Kings are sitting just 4 points out of a playoff spot. We discuss the merits of Jack participating in the shootout, the disheartening loss to Calgary, and the exciting game against Edmonton despite a shootout loss. The Kings have four games this week, three of which are against Pacific Division foes.

We also rant about annoying/stupid things our ears are subjected to by non-educated hockey "fans" at Staples Center. Please let us know what makes you want to scream "Stop Talking!" to annoying newcomers and we'll include it on our next podcast episode.

Continue Reading >>

Kings 2, Oilers 3 (SO)

In the past two games, the Kings have recorded 77 shots on goal and only 2 goals. Ridiculous.

Today the Kings looked pretty good. They had lots of movement, tons of scoring chances, and did a great job of crashing the net and playing a very physical game. However, throughout the game the Kings kept making poor passes. The majority of drop passes didn't connect and the receiver had to back track to collect the puck, thus slowing down the rush. A lot of passes were not tape to tape and the puck would get lost in a player's skate. N(ot that I want to blame any one specific player, but Jack Johnson made a lot of sloppy plays. ) It was incredibly frustrating watching them play very well only to have to regroup and restart the rush because of a bad pass.

I have to give huge props to Raitis Ivanans for completely destroying Zack Stortini. The Kings had an announced sellout and the crowd went absolutely nuts when the fight was going on and gave Ivanans a huge ovation. When video of the fight hits the interwebs, be sure to check it out.
Update: Here's the video of the fight. It looks pretty even until Ivanans clocks him with a semi-uppercut to take the upper hand.

AP Photo
Still trying to figure out how this hit wasn't a penalty...
Moreau hit Brownie late and he left his feet.

Despite the relatively poor passing, I couldn't understand how the Kings were losing through almost the entire game. They completely dominated the second period and had numerous scoring opportunities. Similar to the Calgary game it just wasn't their night to get the puck past the netminder. Thankfully the Kings notched the tying goal with under a minute left in regulation, which was unbelievably amazing. It was so awesome to finally see them get another goal after peppering the Oil with so many shots and it was such a relief to know they were at least going to get a point. I thought the Kings had a chance to win it in shootout now that the Shootout King (Garon) is no longer with Edmonton, but it just wasn't meant to be. I'm beginning to think the Kings should play all of their games on the road. Well, at least they're still in the playoff hunt.

Final note of the game: I know it's great when people get introduced to hockey, but sometimes I wish they would stay out of the arenas till they actually know a thing or two about the game. What bothers me a lot about sitting near people who don't know anything about hockey,is having to hear all the dumb sh*t they say. The guy next to me asked his friend how many quarters there are in the game. (You, dumbass...they're called periods.) He also kept saying he's not sure if he'll be a Kings fan or a Ducks fan. (Don't even get me started.) And towards the end of the game he kept saying the other goalie is really good. (Roloson?? Gimme a break.)

If you don't know what's going on, just keep your trap shut.

Continue Reading >>

Cheap Tickets...But Not the Commission Fee

Recently the Kings had a President's Day sale for the home games in February. 44% off a limited number of tickets for these games. How American of them! I jumped at the chance to get such a great deal and called my ticket box office guy. A year or two ago he converted me from a "search-stub-hub-ebay-ticketmaster-look-for-the-best-possible-deal" fan into a "buying-from-the-box-office" gal with the selling point that I would only have to pay $5 per order as opposed to a higher fee per ticket at other places. I was sold.

I called him last week to buy tickets to this Saturday's game versus the Oilers since there was nothing I wanted to do more than drag my fiance to a Kings game on Valentine's Day. Since it's an afternoon game he can still take me out to a nice dinner at night. It's a win-win-win situation! My ticket guy said the tickets were $20 each and since he was in such a rush that was pretty much all I got out of him. Total expected cost for two tickets: $45

I was quite surprised (and pissed) when I checked my credit card statement earlier this week and found out I had been charged $51.44. I know, it's only $6.44 more than I had anticipated, but still, WTF?! I just called him and politely mentioned that I wanted to verify the charges. He said the tickets were $20.77 and the commission fee was $10. I tried to act surprise and said, "wow, so that's a huge increase over last year....why, it's almost not even worth it buying tickets from you." What I really wanted to say was, "Why didn't you mention the increase in commission when I purchased the tickets? I don't appreciate being lied to so you can bet that I will no longer be buying tickets from you." He quickly mentioned that he could usually waive the fee but that management had instructed the sales team to charge the higher fee for the ticket package. Aha!! You bastards! (read: Kings owners/management/AEG, etc) Market a huge ticket promotion and kick everyone in the balls with a commission fee twice the normal amount. I feel like such a pansy ass that just bought into a huge scam. Screw you and your fees! Now I'm going to stick it to the Kings and revert back to my usual bargain hunting ways.

x-posted to HLOG

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