Kings Have Another Boring Off Season

The Kings off-season has been b.o.r.i.n.g. Thankfully it coincided with my hectic personal summer so I feel like the off-season has been flying by without feeling like I've been missing out on all the fun. The NHL Entry Draft came and went without much fanfare. The Kings did not hold a Draft party this season for season ticket holders something I attribute to the crappy economy but was probably due to the Kings not wanting to give off the impression that having a high Draft pick is something to celebrate year after year since, of course, that would mean that the Kings still suck. The Kings aren't exactly in the top half of the league but the team is slowly getting there and hopefully next year's Draft will be even less of an event for Kings fans than the 2009 Draft.

Even without the fanfare of the 2008 Draft, I doubt the majority of Kings fans were that upset with the selection of forward Brayden Schenn. Personally, I was satisfied. There’s nothing wrong with stacking the farm system, and eventually the roster, with young quality players.

(source)

Braaaaayyyyy-den Schenn…yes, I am a jerk

The Ryan Smyth trade was definitely a huge surprise to me and, it's probably safe to say, to most Kings fans as well. In fact, that was the only surprise of the off-season but it wasn't a complete downer for the Kings community considering the Kings pretty much gave up only Kyle Quincey to acquire Smyth. One could argue that the Kings lost additional manpower since someone named Tom Preissing was also involved in the mix but he was barely on the roster last season so he will hardly be missed. The Kings have a lot of depth on the blueline so while Quincey was a dominant and productive player last year, sadly he was expendable.

The Kings made a couple other small moves, including letting go of Connie's true love, Matt Moulson and trading away Brian Boyle, who has progressed so slowly that the Kings should be given credit for giving him a chance for as long as they did. Teddy Purcell signed for an additional year and several other small fries also remained in the system.

Jack MF Johnson was the big name to re-sign this off-season and THANK GOD negotiations were completed before the start of the season (*cough*Sully*cough*). I found out about this transaction when Connie texted me while I was on my honeymoon. Yep, I got married this summer; I am officially the ball and chain. Anyway, I had been worried all summer long that Jack would get re-signed to a ridiculously unnecessary contract that he didn't deserve. I am not a fan of long contracts and paying athletes for their potential so I was slightly worried that Dean Lombardi would succumb to what seems to becoming the norm in NHL contracts. However, Deano proved why he's so f'ing awesome and came to an agreement with Jack on a two-year deal with an annual cap hit of $1.425 million. I wrote a bit about the Jack re-signing here, but overall, Jack still has a lot to prove so the contract is very telling of what Jack has done for the Kings and what he needs to do in order to be paid the big bucks. It also gives both sides an out in case one or both parties are unhappy with what will happen over the next two years.

So that's it! Boring, right? I know. I live in LA where hockey news is incredibly scarce in local news. I was recently in Minnesota and spent a couple hours at the Mall of America to kill off time before my flight back to LA. I came across the Minnesota Wild Team store and so badly wanted to buy something just because I was hockey starved. I don't care about the Wild but I wanted to buy something hockey related and be near to it. Alas, I didn't step into the store in fear of what I might do. Hockey, please come back now.

(x-posted to HLOG)

Jack vs. Denis

I know Jack hasn't put up the numbers that some people (*cough* myself *cough*) thought he would, but I have no doubt that even if he doesn't develop into an offensive defensiveman he'll still be incredibly valuable in the next two years. When I heard the news that Jack Johnson signed a two-year contract for a cap hit of a mere $1.425 million/year I was shocked because I couldn't believe someone actually agreed to a contract for less than 19 years and that his cap hit was under $2 million/season.

(Photo: LA Kings)JMFJ!!

From a "numbers" point of view, the monetary value of his contract makes sense. He hasn't had a significant offensive presence that was on display in his college years, but that could be because of Crow's coaching style, the Kings' lack of success during his time in LA, and, most definitely, his injury in the '08-'09 season. From a "name" and "potential" point of view, the cap hit is miniscule. I applaud Lombardi and Jack for agreeing to this contract because I cannot stand it when GMs give in to incredibly long-term contracts and I abhor even more athletes (i.e. NFL rookies) who expect large contracts solely on their potential to be a deciding factor.

I thought Jack would sign in the $2.5-$3 million range for around 3-4 years so I'm thoroughly pleased with the agreed contract. It gives Jack the time to prove his value while allowing Lombardi room to work his magic in the years to come without being locked down to a contract that could be problematic. I'm all for compensating players fairly so if Jack proves that he belongs in the top ranks of NHL defensemen than I will gladly see him be rewarded by the Kings or another team if the Kings have enough depth to wave goodbye to a price that doesn't fit the team's building process.

With that said, how in the world did ex-King Denis Grebeshkov just sign a one-year contract with the Oilers for $3.15 million. Umm....really?

(Photo: Gerry Thomas/Getty Images)

Him? Sure, he has more career points than Jack, but points don't mean everything. He was pretty much useless in the Kings system and I think the Oilers are severely overpaying for him. I wonder what athletes think when they see someone, who may be considered below their value, sign for a lot more. I'm glad the Kings traded Grebeshkov and did not let go of Johnson. There's a lot of upside to him and with a stable, (dare I say, "strong") defense, possibly some confidence from Murray, and hopefully an injury-free season I think he'll show some major improvement in terms of offensive production and smart defense.

P.S. I heart Jack even more because he looks just like this hot Chicago Detective that helped me with an incident I had when I was in the City a month ago. *sigh* I really hope Jack does well this season.

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?

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.

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?

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.

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)

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.

'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

'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.

'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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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)

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

"Jackson scores lone SO goal to give Kings win"

The headline of the Kings/Islanders game recap is Jackson scores lone SO goal to give Kings win.

Hey, AP. Who the hell is Jackson??

It took me a couple of seconds to figure out that Jackson is "Jack Johnson".
And I highly doubt the AP was trying to be cute and give Jack Johnson a new nickname.


P.S. I can't believe the Kings needed SO to beat the Isles. But whatever...a win is a win.

I Hate Pierre McGuire.com

Hahha, has anyone else seen this? I Hate Pierre McGuire.Com

The blog hasn't been updated since March 2008, but I think someone needs to contact the owner and get some current stuff on there!

x-posted to HLOG

Kings World Podcast - Episode 27

In this episode of Kings World Podcast, Connie and I review the three road games the Kings played this past week. Much to our surprise and delight, the Kings won all three bringing them two games above 0.500. Connie makes fun of the Senators and both of us commend Quick and relive Sully's penalty shot goal. We finish off the podcast by looking forward to the three games this week.

Please send all feedback and questions to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.

Third Period Scramble

I realize that in the "New NHL" anything can happen and that no lead is safe, but I feel like the Kings have taken it to a whole different level. I watched the third period of the Kings/Caps game and I noticed something that I'm afraid has become a trend for the Kings. In a lot of games this season (and yes, I'm too lazy to go through each game and give you the hard numbers) the Kings have started the third period with the lead or taken the lead early in the third and then proceeded to cling onto that lead for dear life by predominantly only playing defense. In some cases, such as the game against Detroit, there was too much time left and not enough defense. In other cases, such as the game against Colorado, the one against the Blackhawks, and Thursday's game against the Caps, the Kings squeaked out with the W, but they were darn close to losing each game (and I'm calling going past regulation a loss.)

I understand not wanting to be too risky and cute on offense, but I don't understand why in the third period they suddenly look shell shocked and are incapable of clearing the zone or at least getting the puck deep for line changes. Quick was HUGE in the third period and although he allowed two goals in the final frame, he was instrumental in the Kings victory. It's one thing if the Kings play the entire game looking completely outmatched, but it's another to play the majority of the game at a composed level and then scramble in the third period as they desperately try not to blow a lead by heavily relying on goaltending to bail out the team. I don't think it's a good thing that when the Kings start the third period, I pray that they won't blow it. Kinda like when Barbs was in net and I held my breath every time the opposition would shoot. Yeah, not a good sign.

I suppose I should be glad that the Kings managed to win those games and that their play helped make the game very exciting, but I can only wonder how many games they could have won if they hadn't sat back on their heels and let the other team take it to them. If they make the playoffs, there's no way they'll make it out of the first round playing this way.

Gauthier Out...'Meh'.

The Kings will be without their turnover superstar for the next 5 games because of a dirty hit Gauthier doled out in Saturday's game against the Canadiens.

I know Gauthier is a King (a hot one I should add), but let's revist Avery's kind words about him from 2005 when Gauthier hit JR in a preseason game:

I think it was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not back anything up.

...a typical move from a guy wearing a visor that certainly doesn't like to get scratched at all.

I do take exception with the last part because Gauthier will mix it up with guys and receive hits just as much as he delivers hits. But the bottom line is, if you haven't read the blog lately or listened to my podcasts, I miss Avery.

Kings 5, 'Hawks 2

Note to non-Blackhawks fans:

Shouting "Blackhawk Down" more than once during a game is incredibly lame.

AP Photo

Silly boys, you're playing hockey not basketball

"First Class" = Most Irritating Phrase Ever.

I'm easily irritable and usually I keep things to myself, but there's one pet peeve I can't hold in anymore. I cannot stand it when players, coaches, analysts, etc. use the phrase "First Class" when describing a certain player, coach, organization, etc.

The most recent offense I witnessed was committed by Rookie Non-Sensation Steve Stamkos when he was interviewed by FSN's Patrick O'Neal at intermission during the Kings/Lightning game. In that one interview Stamkos described the Lightning as a First Class Organization and then, just minutes later, described Rookie Phenom Drew Doughty as a First Class Player. How original! And guess what? I learned so much more about the Lightning organization and Doughty from that phrase!

Of course, Stamkos isn't the only one guilty of using the most irritating and nondescript phrase ever. I've heard plenty of people in the hockey world use it, and I would probably hear other sports figures use it too if I actually watched another sport. I realize interviewees want to appear composed, competent, and polite, but can they stop acting like they're reading verbatim from the Public Relations Master Handbook? It's like there are only a handful of phrases they're allowed to use.

In my opinion, "first class" means nothing. It's like the adjective "nice". When I went through Sorority Rush Recruitment and we had to talk about every single girl who went through Recruitment, we weren't allowed to use the adjective "nice" because it doesn't mean much and doesn't help other people who haven't met her know anything else about her. That's exactly how I feel about "first class". Every single player, coach, organization, etc. has probably at one point or another been described as First Class. Heck, I'm sure even Sean Avery has been described as a First Class Player, albeit, probably from Brett Hull, but nonetheless, it doesn't help someone unfamiliar with the situation know anything more. What does "First Class" tell you? He's....polite? nice?

I feel like "First Class" is the go-to phrase in an interview. Can't think quick enough on your feet? Just say he's a "First Class Player"! Can't put your finger on the best descriptor? Just say you play for a "First Class Organization"! I would much rather hear someone talk about how an organization will go out of their way to help rookies transition to the NHL. Or how an opponent is an outstanding player who works incredibly hard to be the best and is one of the most competitive people to play against. "First Class" does nothing for me....it's almost as bad as describing someone as a real "stand up guy". Ugh, don't even get me started.

x-posted to HLOG

Kings World Podcast - Episode 24

Connie and I review the past two weeks' worth of Kings games and try not to dwell on the bounty of negatives. It was a little more difficult picking a player for "The Best Week Ever" but we both finally agreed upon someone deserving of the title.

Next week we'll review two games and recap the All-Star weekend.

Don't forget to check us out at our website, Kings World Podcast and on Myspace and Facebook.

Kings 2, Stars 3 (SO)

I've been marinating this shootout loss for an entire day trying to decide if the Kings really did play alright or if my expectations are really high. Throughout the game Jim Fox kept mentioning that the Kings were playing much better and I just couldn't figure out what he was smoking. I thought the Kings played like crap!

The first two periods were God awful from both teams. The game was boring and messy and given that it was scoreless for almost two and a half periods, it seemed like both teams were just waiting for the other to score. The Kings continued to have problems establishing offensive pressure and, once again, the power play was embarrassing.

Whatever happened to those days when the Kings put up double digit shots in the first period and limited the opposition to under 25 shots through three periods? During those days the Kings did a lot of things right. They cleared the zone, made tape-to-tape passes, stonewalled teams on the penalty kill, and converted on power plays. Not so much anymore.

The first Kings goal was the perfect example of everything they need to do to be successful, but rarely ever accomplish. The play started down low with Doughty, who passed it out of the zone to Calder, who skated over the blueline and crisply connected to Brown who finished it off with a sweet shot past Turco. Tic-Tac-F'ing-Toe. It was a very simple play, executed perfectly.

The Stars woke up after the Kings got ahead and my prayers to escape the game with 2 points were stomped on when the Kings found themselves down by a goal. I gotta hand it to the Kings who persevered and tied the game with 16 seconds left. I thought the Kings had a chance to win it in shootout, but, "Damn, Ribeiro!!" I hate it when the Kings play against that sneaky little pisser. I'm partially satisfied seeing the Kings take one point, but I still don't think they played very well yesterday. The offense is just not there anymore and I find it hard to believe that the Kings can win enough games to stay in the playoff race by only scoring a couple goals. They can't continue giving shitacular performances and expect to win.

Last season the Kings had a meltdown in December and this season the Kings are on a verge of melting down one month later. If they don't win at least one of the next two games (both on the road), this season is D.O.N.E.

Baby Bernier Back in LA

Awww, Baby Bernier has been recalled from Manchester.

courtesy of Let's Go Kings

I'm sooooo hot. I'm also a goalie.

I highly doubt he'll be in LA for too long (since Ersberg is sidelined with a minor day-to-day injury), but there's definitely a comforting feeling just knowing he's in the LA lineup. It's probably because he's super hot. Or, maybe it's because he's supposed to be the face of the LA Kings in net. I don't know, one of the two. You can choose.

Dear Kings, Did you really just lose to Tampa Bay?

That game was terrible. It's time to write some letters:

Dear Kings Offense,

Where are you?

Love,
k.m.stiles



Dear Teddy Purcell,

You should try passing to your own teammate.

xoxo,
kms



Dear Patrick O'Sullivan,

Are you still playing with the Kings?


Regards,
kmstiles



Dear Hot Swede Erik Ersberg,

Don't yell at yourself too much. You look like Dominik Hasek and that's not attractive.

Best,
kms2



Dear Denis Gauthier,

You should consider taking lessons from Drew Doughty.

Yours truly,
k.m.s.


Dear Kings Power Play,

You do realize the other team is short-handed, right?

Sincerely,
kms2

Kings 1, Devils 5: Soooooooo Terrible

At least I don't have to live in Jersey

Where to begin...

they couldn't connect passes, they coughed up the puck so often it looked like they didn't even want it, they hung Quick out to dry, they took way too many penalties, the refs made some BS calls against the Kings (and let a lot slide for the Devils, or maybe it's just that I was at the game and didn't see any replays of the 'offenses'), the Kings failed to win key faceoffs, Harrold look like poopoo, they made Weekes look like an All-Star, and to top it all off, Matt Greene looked like a noob when he tried to battle Mike Rupp in the waning minutes of the game. If you're gonna fight, at least look like you have a slight clue as to how to fight. It just ended up being the final kicker to an embarrassing loss to the New Jersey Devils.

The highlight of the night was definitely a hit by Brown where it looked like he was going to get rammed into the boards but somehow got the Devil turned around and laid a pretty nice hit on him. As my FI put it, "You can go pick up your manhood from Dustin Brown". I'll post a clip of it if I can find it.

On the positive side, LA Live is looking pretty good. I couldn't believe how crowded it was and there are heaters on the outer walls of the buildings!! What?! Haha, as if it's that cold in LA that we need to have heat coming out of the buildings. So awesome.

Kings 4, Ducks 3

For all the things the Kings did to completely turn their game around from two nights ago, they really tried their hardest to totally blow it by handing the Ducks 6 power plays. 6! Including one for too many men on the ice and another for puck over the glass/delay of game. This is the second time in as many games where the Kings allowed a power play goal due to a delay of game penalty. Focus, guys, focus!

I think he's baaaaaaaaaaack!

However, the Kings did do a lot of things right, especially finding the back of the net. So here they are again at 0.500 with a record of 17-17-6. They're doing a pretty good job of staying average. If only they can display some consistency and string together some wins. But I guess it could be worse; we could be the Islanders.

P.S. I'm really not a fan of this Ryan kid. He really stinks of....what's the word? Hmmm...I think "douchiness" will do just fine.

P.P.S. Total ice time for my two favorite players:
Kyle Calder 5:38
Jon Zeiler 4:10

According to Inside the Kings, neither guy played in the third period...Gee, I wonder why.

Book Review: 'Game of Shadows'

I just finished reading Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports, by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams. If I had to describe this book in one word it would be, Wow.

This book goes into a whole lotta detail about the guy, Victor Conte, who started BALCO, and the weird twisted six-degrees-of-separation-cobweb of steroid users, makers, and distributors. Barry Bonds, of course, is stage center in this book, but also implicated in the book are a lot of other professional athletes, mainly track and field stars.

It's an easy read but incredibly fascinating and chock full of information, including grand jury testimonies that were supposed to be sealed. It makes you think twice about being a sports fan and how much you can trust the athletes that are so adored.

Kings1, Ducks 3

What the hell did I just watch?

I don't know how I made it through the entire game but it was so painful watching my Kings doing...nothing. It's a good thing Anaheim wasn't on top of their game or else the Kings would have gotten blown out while they glided along the ice, thumbs up their butts, watching the other team skate circles around them. Ersberg was easily the best player for the Kings tonight and even he wasn't stellar, just wasn't tested much. This game was downright terrible.

Getty Images
It was messy, slow, and boring.
That's what she said.

Kings World Podcast - Episode 23

The first Kings World Podcast episode of 2009. We do a quick review of the games from the past two weeks, touch upon the departure of LaBarbera and the emergence of Quick, and discuss the upcoming games, including a home-and-home against a Perry-less Anaheim.

All comments, questions, and feedback regarding the podcast may be directed to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.

Enjoy and thanks for listening!

We Like Our Goalies Young

We also like it when our goalies give us a shot at winning games, something LaBarbera only did less than a handful of times this season. Who would've thunk it that Ersberg's injury would essentially be the final straw for LaBarbera; instead of Barbs stepping up and solidifying his hold on the number one goaltending spot, he let it slip away and gave rookie Jonathan Quick a chance (actually multiple chances) to show off his skills and prove he's ready for the NHL.

(Photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)

With several strong performances in net from Quick, a healthier Ersberg, one highly touted goalie (Bernier) in Manchester and two additional promising goalies (Taylor and Zatkoff) in the pipeline, it was obvious from the start of the season that if Barbs didn't drastically improve his play in net his chances of returning next season would soon decrease to zero. Seeing that Barbs was only signed through this season (and not for a hefty price tag at all) and that it was highly unlikely he would be re-signed, unloading him and getting anything for him at this point is a bargain and a very smart move. Lombardi is pretty good at drafting players so I wouldn't be surprised if he snags a gem in the 7th round.

Photo Courtesy of kms2

He's tall...and really, really nice

See ya, Barbs. Good Luck with the Canucks this year and in the AHL or KHL after that.

x-posted to HLOG

Jon Zeiler: The Great Divide Between Siblings

My brother and I usually have very similar tastes: huge crush on Dustin Brown, love of Japanese food, music, TV shows, movies, etc. The one thing we severely disagree on is Jon Zeiler. I've made it well known on this blog that I absolutely detest Zeiler and see him negatively contributing to the Kings. On the other hand, my hermano loves this guy because he goes out on the ice with the sole intention of hitting the opposition. Zeiler's role is the exact reason why I can't stand him since his only purpose is to take runs at people; with the hockey goon gradually being phased out of the league, what's the purpose of playing someone who has a lack of hockey skills and admits that his goal is to hit people when the end result most of the times is that he eats glass.

Regardless, my complaints about Zeiler in the presence of my hermano falls on deaf ears. When Zeiler finally returned to the lineup after a short stint on the sidelines, during which Peter Harrold, his replacement on the fourth line, proceeded to notch 2 goals in 2 games, he attempted to fight the crazy, lunatic, something wrong in the head, Avery-in-the-making Daniel Carcillo. My hermano loved the photo below that the AP snapped and he came up with the caption all on his own:

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE'S JOHNNY!!!!"

The funniest thing about this photo is it looks like Johnny Z had the upper hand in the fight when in reality, this move was a total fluke in the fight and occurred after Carcillo pounded Zeiler. I have no idea how Zeiler was able to flip Carcillo like this and I guess it's another anomaly I won't ever be able to understand in Zeiler's hockey career. The other shitty thing about Zeiler is that once Carcillo had his back on the ice, he still continued to throw punches, not exactly conforming to the gentleman's code. Alas, despite my attempt to clear my brother's head, I don't think he'll ever stop supporting Zeiler. And to irritate me even more, I don't think he'll ever be permanently placed on the sidelines. I guess we'll all have to suffer watching Zeiler attempt to become 'The NHL's Next Biggest Pest'. Actually, that should be a TV Show starring Zeiler, Carcillo, and Tootoo and Sean Avery as the judge.

LA Times: Drew Doughty

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!

In today's LA Times there's a great article about Drew Doughty. It's about his transition into the NHL and how the team made sure he had great people around him off the ice to take care of him. He rooms with Brownie on the road and lives with Matt Greene. I still don't know much about Greene but the article presents him in a good light as Greene talks about wanting to make sure Doughty is taken care of as he was by Jason Smith in Edmonton. It also seems like he's helping Doughty mature:

I have a five-second buffer that I employ with him. Just think before you talk.

Brown is also helping Doughty adjust to life:

There are just these random chirps that don't make any sense, Brown said, laughing. When you're joking around, his big comeback is, 'You're stupid.' It's like 10-year-old humor.

So he's still a little kid at heart. At least he's making a big difference on the ice and the team has his best interest in mind. It's always nice to hear about the young guys being taken care of.

Mr. Quickie Gets the Shutout!

Terry Murray definitely listened to the most recent episode of Kings World Podcast and took advice from myself and Connie because we got our wishes: Barbs out, Quick in, Zeiler out, and Preissing in. The result was beautiful! What, you say? A win against the struggling Blue Jackets is nothing to write home about? I don't give a flying you know what about what anyone says about discounting tonight's win because the Kings needed this W and, let's be honest, so did I.


Because the Midwest can't do anything right, this game started at 4pm my time and silly me forgot to set the game to record. I only watched the third period, but it was enough to show me that the Kings were doing a lot of things right tonight. They limited Columbus' scoring opportunities, protected Quick and his crazy rebounds, and were able to easily move the puck around.

I'm very pleased with the firsts that occurred tonight: Bam Bam's first goal of the season, Harrold's first goal of the season, and Quick's first NHL shutout. I'm not a big fan of Peter Harrold and I was this close to writing a post about why he shouldn't play tonight even though a lot of friends and family would be in attendance. But I am all for him taking Zeiler's spot and he did fantastic job at it, notching his first of the season, a beautiful finish off a perfect pass from Kopitar, and finishing the game with a +2. Well done, Harrrold, way to play the puck and not ignore its presence on the ice. It's rather impressive when two guys both score goals while only registering less than 8 minutes of playing time; it's good to see the fourth line contribute.

Yeeeaaaah, Bam Bam!!!

Next up: Christmas!
After that: Home-and-home against the Phoenix Coyotes.
And then after that: Another faceoff against Columbus.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Is It All Downhill From Here?

Friday's game against Buffalo was atrocious. I had to turn it off because it was so painful.

I missed the first two periods of today's game against Detroit but I was pleasantly surprised to see them tied 3-3 heading into the final period. I was even more surprised to find out that rookie netminder Jonathan Quick was in net and had been there the entire game. Was LaBarbera's outing the previous day terrible enough to warrant him a spot on the bench the following day? Earlier in the season, even with Ersberg backing him up, Murray played Barbs game after game despite being shaky in net. While I was pleased to see Murray not play favorites and insist that Barbs is definitely, without question the Number One goaltender, I was still questioning if it was the smart move to start a rookie against one of the top teams in the league.


I can't judge how the team played the entire game, but in the third, despite taking a one-goal lead from Brownie off of a sweet pass from Stoll, the Kings didn't deserve the win. After getting that fourth goal the Kings stopped trying to play offense and instead tried their hardest to clog up the neutral zone and stop the Red Wings from tying the game. Not only did the Kings fail to prevent the Wings from forcing extra time, they found themselves completely helpless against the Stanley Cup Champs, falling to them 4-6.

Quick had some bad rebounds and allowed a short side goal that he should have stopped. Quincey was cheating and found himself at the top of crease not doing much to prevent a pass through the crease or tie up Hudler and not allow him to score so easily. For the second half of the period the Kings were scrambling and always looked a step behind the quick, smart, fluid Red Wings.

The Kings are in the midst of a four game losing streak and now the goaltending position is in the hot seat again. I'm not convinced Quick can pick up the pieces and be the Kings' best defender when LaBarbera is struggling, which recently has been too often. I've been waiting for the Kings to get past the 0.500 mark and prove to everyone that they are a winning team, but lately they haven't shown it and their record continues to get worse. Will the Kings finish the season hovering around 0.500, figure out how to be more consistent and be a winning team, or continue this downward spiral and finish in the bottom quarter of the league?

Kings World Podcast: Episode 21

I'm back this week on Episode 21 of Kings World Podcast. Since Connie and I missed a week we had tons of games to review and preview. Instead of reminiscing over the past 5 or 6 games, we only touch upon certain parts of those games as we discuss what the Kings are doing right and what they need to improve upon. We look forward to a busy week for the Kings (finally some road games and some are against the Eastern Conference!) and close out the episode with the usual shoutouts.

Comments can be emailed to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com. And join our Facebook group!

15-Dec-08: Kings v. Sharks

Los Angeles Kings: 13-12-4...not bad, I'll take it.
San Jose Sharks: 24-3-2....WHAT?! Are you kidding me!?

I've barely been paying attention to the standings. All I know is that the Kings are usually somewhere behind the 8th spot in the Western Conference but they're playing well enough to put them out of the cellar. But what in the world are the San Jose Sharks on this year?! When the Kings opened the season with a home-and-home against the Sharks and looked like absolute poo-poo in those games, I figured it was just because the Kings were terrible and I was going to have a horrible season and be done with my boys come the middle of December. But seeing how the Kings have held strong at 0.500 (although I would love to see them breakaway far past that marker), and it's the middle December and I definitely have not put them out of the playoff race, all is left to say is, "ok, I'll admit it. The Sharks are good this season." And it sucks that they're this good this season. Why? Because the Kings aren't that good and until the Kings are that good, no other California team should be that good. But whatever, I'll put my pity party on hold.

Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images

Stretch it Bam Bam. Stretch it good.

If the Kings can play on Monday like they did against Minnesota (minus the Harrold penalty with three minutes to play with the Kings holding onto only a 2-0 lead for dear life) and like they did against Columbus and St. Louis, then they should have a pretty good chance at winning the game. BUT, if the team comes out like they did against Colorado, stanking like pure ass, then it's all over for them. Bottom line, the Kings are inconsistent from period to period and game to game, and I never know which team will take the ice. I know they can play like an elite team, it just depends on whether or not that team shows up. The Sharks need to be put down and I hope my Kings are the team that starts their downfall.

Neck Beards = Grossness

Who knew that Kyle Orton's neckbeard, Kyle Orton's nasty, grimy, disgusting, severely unattractive neckbeard, would make its way to the NHL and to the LA Kings.

Patrick O'Sullivan has been sporting one and recently I noticed that Kyle Quincey started too. Do guys think this is an awesome look? They do know that it's disgusting and won't get them the ladies, right? I assume they're doing it to be funny. And tonight, in the game against Columbus, there are a lot more unshaven guys than usual. Most notably, Frolov has unfortunate stubble and Handzus let his beard grow past the stubble stage.

Is it possible that this year's playoff beard fad will be the neck beard? Ooohhh, that won't be pretty.