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.

Kings 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT)

Seeing Michal Handzus score the first and last Kings goals tonight almost brought tears to my eyes. I was a huge fan of Handzus last season despite his endless struggles on the ice and I was convinced he would be better this season. Only 4 games in and he's already proving what a different and improved player he is.

The third line of Alexander Frolov, Michal Handzus, and Wayne Simmonds played very well and were predominantly the best line for the Kings tonight. Even though Handzus and Frolov rarely, if ever, played on the same line last year, they looked amazing together. I'm still in awe of how well that line looked tonight. Before the season began I was anxious to see Frolov and O'Sullivan or Frolov and Stoll, but Frolov and Handzus? How did I not see this earlier? I think I was too preoccupied with the fact that if Calder was in the lineup it just seemed like he would play with Handzus. But fortunately, Calder has only been given the privilege of suiting up for the season opener. After re-signing O'Sullivan and keeping Oscar Moller and Simmonds, the Kings now have three solid lines.

Tonight I was impressed by three players: Handzus, Doughty, and LaBarbera. I already spoke about my wonderful amazing Handzus. Drew Doughty is f'ing good. The past couple games there have been moments when he would carry the puck and make moves that look so easy. But you know that it isn't easy. And when you think that he's just a couple games into this NHL career and he's already making opponents look bad, you know this kid is good. Crazy good. I'm so torn right now. I stated last month that I really liked what I saw from Hickey in the preseason games and I wanted to get his jersey. But I didn't want to get his jersey before he played with the Kings. And I didn't really want a Doughty jersey because during preseason he was wearing 80 and frankly, that's a shitty number. It's a multiple of so many other numbers. 37? Awesome! 80? It's so round... But when Matt Ellis was claimed off waivers, Doughty switched to 8 and 8, I can live with. And, he's amazing. So, yeah, if he shaves that horrendous facial hair then I'll definitely get a Doughty jersey.

Now, LaBarbera. I was a pretty tough critic of him during preseason but I was being honest because he looked like crap. He played ok against San Jose and played well against Anaheim, although he was hardly tested, but tonight he was ON. He did allow three goals tonight but all of them came from shots that were deflected by at least two players before they made it past him. The only way he could have saved them was if he had stolen Hasek's lucky horseshoe that's been stuck up his ass the past 15 years. Otherwise, Barbs was very solid tonight. (In fact, he's been the best goalie on my fantasy team this week. So thank you Barbs for not screwing up like Turco and Biron.) He had the save of the game in overtime when it looked like Eric Staal had an easy goal, but somehow Barbs got a pad on it and kept the game alive for Handzus to win it. He's getting better every game and is now making the saves that he should and coming up with some huge ones too. He's giving the Kings the goaltending they need and hopefully the W's will instill more and more confidence in him.

Ahhh, 2 in a row. It feels good. I wonder what 3 in a row feels like.

Kings Manhandle Ducks

Now that was a great game. I thought the Kings were done when the Ducks took an early 2-0 lead, but the guys held strong and, despite a couple hiccups here and there, executed a very solid game that was completely different than the ones they played this past weekend.

Everything the Kings did wrong in the home opener on Sunday they fixed in tonight's game. Passes were crisp and made tape-to-tape, they skated through the neutral zone with ease, and faced little difficulty applying pressure in the offensive zone. The Kings matched the Ducks' physical game and on more than one occassion I was very glad we picked up some big defensemen during the off season.

Save for a few players, every one played exceptionally well. Rookie Wayne Simmonds got the Kings on the scoreboard with his first NHL goal. He really kept that play going so it was fitting to see him jump on the rebound and bury it. Moulson was kept on the top line and potted a beauty off a feed from Brownie. Stoll got his first of the season with a slap shot on the power play, which was aided by Handzus screening Giguere. Handzus may have only had one assist in the game but his play tonight was very deserving of the third star of the game. O'Sullivan had an incredible game and got some help from Pronger on his firt goal of the season. Tom Preissing knocked in a power play goal and hit the post on another shot and Frolov finished off the Ducks with an empty netter.

It felt so good seeing the Kings take it to the complacent Ducks and hand them their third consecutive loss. I couldn't help but laugh every time the Ducks took another power play. It took the Kings awhile to get the power play going but when you have 9 opportunities you're bound to capitalize. Tonight the Kings showed how well they can play together so hopefully they keep it up and string together some wins.

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Eat Shit, Getzlaf. That's what you get for running my goalie.

HANDZUS!

I had absolutely zero expectations as this game started today but I was filled with frustration. I was annoyed that the game was at noon, smack dab in the middle of the day. I was annoyed that the freakin' gardeners were back for the second day in a row. I was annoyed that the season is still going on and my Kings have no hope of making it to the post season....again. I was annoyed because I did my taxes last night and things are NOT looking good. I was annoyed because Crow severely mixed up the lines in the last game and I was dreading what was in store today.

I let out a sigh of relief when the game started and I saw the lines. Finally, the top line is actually a number one line: Kopitar-Brown-O'Sullivan. The second line was just fine as well: Frolov-Cammalleri-Armstrong. The remaining two lines were just...there.

Let's fast forward to the third period. Dallas 2, Kings 1. I had to run an errand and didn't want to wait till after the game (again, I HATE games that start before 3 pm.) I had every intention to record the game just in case the Kings got down by 4 and then won the game in OT. However, as I drove away I realized that I completely forgot to record the game. I turned the game on the radio and eventually heard HANDZUS score a goal! I was so excited that my boy ZEUS finally got another goal. The last time he scored was Dec 17th! Lubo immediately put my boys up by one goal and then I reached my destination. I had a good feeling about the game since there wasn't that much time left so I figured the Kings won 3-2, maybe 4-2 with an empty-netter.

I checked the score when I came home and saw we won 4-2, but the last goal wasn't an empty-netter! And to make things even better, HANDZUS scored again!!! WTF?! All season long I've been his biggest advocate. I don't know why I like him but I've been saying this entire time to just give him some time and he'll come around. But, I'll be honest. During today's game, feelings of disappoint came over me when I saw Handzus on the ice. It was like I was disappointed in him for proving me wrong, disappointed that he couldn't be that third line presence that scores and enforces the whole "scoring by committee" philosophy. I finally began to doubt Lombardi's reasoning for signing him, especially to a multi-year contract. But then, as if Handzus had heard my thoughts, he came through and helped the Kings defeat the Dallas Stars. I hope this game doesn't become like Nagy's hat-trick game, an ultimate high followed by some lows and a great disappearing act. I hope this two-goal game sparks Handzus's confidence and scoring touch even if it is for just a couple more games. He'll finally have a full healthy season behind him and if anything, I hope this is just a preview of what we'll see next season.

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
I love you, Handzus!!

Michal, Michal, Motorcycle

Dear Handzus,

I realize that losing your hair was a very emotional moment but you have to move on. Whatever happened off the ice between you and Crow should stay off the ice. Don't let that personal grudge over who is the only one allowed to have the best hair affect your play on the ice. It's just hair and it will grow back because your name isn't Kyle Calder.

Despite the one goal you scored in London (empty net, too) I've hardly noticed you. You seem to be dragging your lanky 6'-5" frame around the ice instead of graciously skating with fierce intensity every single time your blades hit the ice. I have noticed you on the PK but your play has been greatly shadowed by the tremendous resurgence of Pah-ty O'Sullivan. I'm not suggesting that you acquire a pill depdency to overcome your depression that was onset by your recent haircut, but poppin' an anti-depressant before each game might not be such a bad idea.

Handzus, just do what you got to do in order to be competitive with this team otherwise you'll soon find yourself switching places with Ladislav "where are you?" Nagy. And for the love of God, don't cut your hair before the season is over or else you won't win Barry's gold medal for "Best Hair". Don't let Crow convince you that it is a requirement that your hair be worse than his because that is utter BS. He needs help from a jar of pomade while you have an unruly, yet beautiful and luscious mane of curls.

Go get 'em, Handzus, make me proud!

Regards,
kms2