So Long 2008

I have Columbus Blue Jackets 20 year old goaltender Steve Mason on my fantasy hockey team. I don't claim to be a guru, rather my goaltending sucked and I picked him up after he had won a few games for the Blue Jackets. The rest of the NHL has now seemed to take notice of him and if the Blue Jackets defense continues to play in front of him like they did Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings... he is well on his way to being an elite NHL goalie. I really can't blame the Kings too much for this loss. Columbus just shut down the Kings completely, so much so that all they could do was dump and chase to get into the zone. A sharp contrast from the breakout heavy, carrying the puck in the zone team that beat up Phoenix on Saturday. I did keep waiting for Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown or Alexander Frolov to step up and take control to at least tie the game... but that never came. Columbus really put the clamps down on any chance of a Kings victory.

Kings 0, Blue Jackets 2


I know the Kings have a surplus of young goalies,
but this is ridiculous!

Goalie Savior Jon Quick looked sharp again. In his quest to only play the Blue Jackets, he probably has a pretty solid scouting report on this team. The defense looked strong in front of him again so the only real problem for the Kings last night was the offense. I would assume that Quick will get the call Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers and in that game we will get a true test if Quick's Savior-ness is for real or not. In the meantime, I'm really digging the way that Fox Sports West uses the "Q" in their on-air graphics:

The font snob in me kinda likes that.

Speaking of fantasy teams... it was a great night of Heidi Androl coverage:

I think I once read a Penthouse Letters that started off like this.

Heidi also introduced a pre-taped segment highlighting the Kings participation in the "Adopt a Family" charity. Is it just me or is Kings Radio Announcer Daryl Evans looking a little too "Daniel Plainview" these days?

This is my boy, HW.

The event was about the Kings spending time with families in need. The video showcased food, autographs, carnival games and some video game hockey. Look at these 2 cute boys playing Xbox:

Awww.

The camera then panned over and showed these 2 young boys playing Xbox as well:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that is Matt Greene and Jack Johnson.
What you don't see is the line of actual kids waiting for their turn.

Finally, Heidi Androl scored an interview with Rap Superstar and NHL fan 'Lil Jon. And I think she'd like to do this one over again.

Yup... Heidi is totally flashing the "shocker."

For Los Angeles Kings hockey, the first half of 2008 was a total disaster, filled with goalies you'll never hear of again and the 2nd worst record in the NHL. But the second half of the year has shown some promise with the drafting and arrival of 19 Year Old Drew Doughty and a bit more stability in the Kings net. In 37 games so far, the Kings have given up 24 less goals than they did last season. Youngsters like Oscar Moller and Wayne Simmonds have really impressed and the defense is a complete 180 degrees from where it was last season (plus Jack Johnson isn't playing yet!). The last 2 years have been about the possibility of promise from the Los Angeles Kings... and it's slowly beginning to deliver.

Here's to a great 2009 and hopefully the 8th playoff spot for the team. Happy New Year to the loyal readers of The Royal Half!