The Blue Jackets Are Coming!

Is this the most important game for the Los Angeles Kings over the past 5 years? Probably the most intentionally important, yes. The Kings win against San Jose last season in the 2nd to last game forced them to draft 2nd instead of 1st ... and in the process get 19 Year Old Drew Doughty. So while that will go down as an important game in the annals of Kings history...it's easy to say that tonight's game against the 6th place Columbus Blue Jackets is the most important game of the last 5 years. Do you understand what I'm saying? Tonight's game is a big one.

A victory tonight keeps the Kings in the race for 8th, better known to the fan of this blog as "Exert for 8th." It also helps this young Kings team get back on track after a disappointing road trip in terms of actual points gained, but promising in terms of overall play.

But a victory tonight could also have uber-GM Dean Lombardi pulling the trigger on a trade that will help this team in the short term, but also importantly in the long term. Lombardi has done an amazing job of putting this franchise in the drivers seats this trading deadline. They are both buyer and seller... and Lombardi isn't going to make the mistake of GM's in the past and pick up a rental player. Just ask Cliff Ronning, Mark Parrish, Anson Carter, Nathan Dempsey and Brent Sopel how that turned out.

So tonight is a must win if the Kings want to make the playoffs. No doubt about that. But even if the Kings lose tonight... the plan that Dean Lombardi put into place almost 3 years ago is coming together. This is going to be a team to reckon with the next few years, especially after Lombardi makes a move at the trading deadline or during summer free agency. Just don't trade Frolov, ok?

20 to Go

Um, guys? That game was 2 months ago. I'm surprised no one told you.
Especially you Foxy.

Jon Quick is a really good goalie. He even has the potential to be an excellent goalie... what some might refer to as an elite NHL goalie. Something the Kings have never had. He's smart, athletic and seems to have the uncanny ability to calm himself down after giving up an early lead... something that has happened the last two games to the Los Angeles Kings.

Not exactly the look you want to see on your goalie's face after a goal is scored.

And in for the close up:

I'm pretty sure that is the standard brace position for a plane going down.

The only thing he can't do is score. He needs the 5 players in front of him to start doing that. And if those same players can remember how to play defense in front of Quick like they were a few weeks ago, the Kings still have a chance to make the playoffs.

Again, not the kind of body language a team is looking for from its goalie.

But they are hanging on by a thread right now... 6 points out with 20 games to play. 20 games in which this team has to decide what they want to be doing in April... playing hockey or playing golf. This team isn't getting blown out in these games, not in the least. These are games they could be winning. But with an extremely important game on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Kings must get this 20 game stretch off with a bang and not a whimper. Rumors are flying left and right with the trade deadline coming up Wednesday at noon. The only one I've read that has interested me has been the possibility of Ryan Smyth coming to the Kings. If I'm the Kings GM, I make that trade in a heartbeat. There is a reason Ryan Smyth is called Captain Canada and he's the exact type of dirty, hardworking, goal scoring forward that this team needs. And you know what? I might even give up one of my prized young goalies to make the trade. Because after all, Jon Quick is now the Kings goalie of the present and the future.

Just not tonight.

Kings 2, Chicago 4

And Away We Go!

Tuesday at the Minnesota Wild, a team who is battling for the 8th spot in the west. Wednesday in Philadelphia against the 4th best team in the Eastern Conference, the Flyers. And then Friday in Detroit against the Red Wings. Ah, screw it, let's include Sunday's game against the Blackhawks in Chicago. Ok, since we are going for it, the road trip ends a week from tonight in... Columbus.

5 games. 8 days. Yeah... I'd say this is a pretty important roadtrip. There is no 3 out of 5 on this roadtrip... it's all or nothing. I've been accused of blogger hyperbole before... mainly by the guy who sits next to me at Kings games... but this is truly a make it or break it trip for the Kings.

Ok, now I'm REALLY going to start playing.

Dr. James T. O'Brien, Chief of Bubbleology over at Battle of California, has been breaking down the Western Conference battle for 6th, 7th and 8th place... and he still includes the Kings this week as having a slight chance, although I think he is just throwing me a bone so I'll continue to write for his blog.

Duck Soup

How much fun is it to be a Los Angeles King right now? Even renowned sourpuss Patrick O'Sullivan cracked a smile tonight.

Oh...So that's why he never smiles. Makes sense.

Kings 4, Freeway Faceoff Failures 3

What's going to be better? Making the playoffs or finishing ahead of the Anaheim Ducks? How about both? I'm glad the world-famous Freeway Faceoff is over so that I never have to listen to the NHL's worst play by play team again... until next season.

Yup. They still do this segment.

I think "Hays" was in a haze of his own today... even by Brian Hayward standards. Not only did he imply that Dustin Brown is a diver but he also was convinced that Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer ran over Kings goaltender Jon Quick... then Quick skated back to his crease... and then skated back behind the net to punch Niedermayer. He was convinced of it. Even his broadcast partner John "Rimming" Ahlers called him out as crazy.

It's always a treat to watch the Ducks broadcast against the Kings because you really do get the sense of how different it is down south.

Heidi Androl would never stoop this low.

And the fans are much, much classier in Orange County. That's why they make TV shows about them!

This Bordeaux goes excellent with my chicken strip.

Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller unveiled his brand new mask tonight at the game. Maybe he's planning on getting traded to Vancouver. In 1979.

Is this really happening? Exert for Eighth continues. 3 points out of the playoffs. Let's do it all over again Thursday night in San Jose.

Exert for Eighth!

In the tradition of The Freeway Faceoff... I present to you, the Royal Half reader and Kings fans... Exert for Eighth!!! The official branding of the 2009 Los Angeles Kings run for the 8th playoff seed.

Let's get it started Wednesday against the Ducks.

I'm Too Old for this Ship

I think when the Half Season Ticket Holder Buddy and I exchanged our tickets from a November game against the Stars for this mid-February games against the Thrashers... we had the hope that it would be a meaningful game for the playoff race. We did a similar exchange for a March games against the Phoenix Coyotes last season... only to not even bother going to that game because the Kings were so far out of any playoff race. But I think we had NO idea that this game against Atlanta would end up being a game like the one we witnessed last night. The very definition of a Barn Burner... The Kings were never dominate in this one like they were against Edmonton last Saturday. Tonight they were always having to fight back from 2, 3 goals down. During the 2nd intermission, Half Season Ticket Holder Buddy and I were talking about the thrill you get from following a pro sports team... the feeling that we experienced last Saturday when the Kings tied up the game against Edmonton with a few seconds left. There really is nothing like it to compare to in your normal life. If you do something successful at work... you don't scream and jump up and hug strangers like a fool. But tonight, when Anze Kopitar shoots a cannon into the opposing net with 5 seconds left... and the Kings salvage a point in one of the tightest playoff races in memory... it feels kinda like this:

How can you say this team is NOT going to make the playoffs?!?

Kings 6! Atlanta Thrashers 7!

As you might of heard, it was Armenian Heritage Night at Staples, celebrating the first game in LA by Atlanta Thrashers rookie Zac Bogosian. (Strange coincidence that they changed the scoring to give Bogosian a few extra assists, huh? A NHL-Armenian conspiracy is brewing!) The Kings did a similar event when Alex Ovechkin and the rest of the Washington Capitals came to town, having a Russian Heritage Night celebration. Hands down... the Armenians are definitely the better fans when it comes to cheering at Kings games by former republics of the Soviet Union.

And they party... double fisted style!

It's a shame that former King and current Jew Mathieu Schneider was traded earlier in the day from Atlanta to Montreal. Because the Kings could have combined Armenian Heritage Night with a Jewish Heritage Night to create a night of hockey with the most delicious ethnic foods ever!

Give me another blintz! And more challah! And some shawarma from Zankou!

Unfortunately, there was no promotional tie in with Zankou at the game. Another missed opportunity from the Los Angeles Kings marketing department. Hopefully next time the Atlanta Thrashers come to town Zankou will be there at the game.

As for the hockey, well you don't like to see the Kings get points like this. You want the team to be dominate while getting and keeping a lead. The play in the first period was just plain sloppy... and it reminded Kings fans of our goaltending troubles from earlier in the season. Still... we kinda knew the Kings would come back. This team is on a mission. If it's not the playoffs... then it's as close as they can damn get. The team is maturing in front of us nightly... but the Kings could have really used those extra points in the last two games.

What does it all mean? Well, it means that the Kings must win this week with crazy important games against the Ducks on Wednesday and the Coyotes on Saturday. Oh and for fun... the team gets to play the NHL best San Jose Sharks on Thursday. I don't mind seeing the Kings struggle for points at home... if they play on the road like they did last week. Because the majority of the remaining games are on the road.

All in all... this crazy playoff ride on the USS Kings is worth every penny. Especially since, as my Half Season Ticket Holder Buddy likes to remind me daily, I had the Kings out of the playoffs a few weeks ago.

4 In A Row

It wasn't pretty... but it was a win. And the game wasn't even the shittest thing I watched all night... no, that honor went to those Buy.com commercials with Howie Mandel.

As in, "Up Yours, America."

Kings 4, New York Islanders 3

I consider myself a pretty serious hockey fan. I've been following the Kings for 20 years, played the game for the same amount of time, I'm in 2 fantasy hockey leagues (first place in one of them!)... but I had no freakin' idea who some of those guys skating for the New York Islanders were tonight. Hillen? Gervais? Okposo? Bailey? Luckily, I played NHL '94 so I knew who Bill Guerin and Doug Weight were. I've always secretly liked the Islanders organization and I really hope to make it to a game at the Nassau Coliseum before they are forced the shut the place down. But tonight I discovered why I love the Islanders so much... they have a retirement banner for Billy Joel!

Best. Banner. Ever.

The Islanders are where the Kings were 3 years ago. I feel for their fans, especially Schultz over at Barry Melrose Rocks who seems to cheer as hard for the Islanders as I do for the Kings. So if the Islanders are the Kings of 3 years ago... then where are the Kings today?

Three games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2005-06 season... that's where they are! Oh and the Kings are 2 points out of a playoff spot. 6-1 in their last 7 road games. 7-1-1 in their last 9 games. And they are the NHL's highest scoring team in the 2nd period since January 20th. What that last stat means, I have no idea.

Half Season Ticket Holder Buddy and I haven't experienced anything like this since... well since the end of the 2005-2006 season. It's almost mid-February and we are spending our afternoons handicapping which Western Conference team we want to win that night over IM.

We aren't dreading going to games or speeding through periods on Tivo. We are in a bonafide goddamn playoff race for the first time in what feels like forever. And man does it feel good. Who cares if every other team is in the race too?

So what happened tonight? Well, the Kings played horrible for the first 2 periods. But they got it together in the 3rd and dominated the Islanders like they should have all game. And I knew that if the Kings could get to a shootout, they would take home the extra point. But I had no idea that Jack Johnson would add to his legend with that sweet deke.

Say hi to your mom for me, McFly.

To say this road trip has been amazing would be an understatement. A record of 4-1, 8 out of 10 possible points, some props from East Coast hockey writers, AND they even got to ride the train from DC to Newark.

Welcome home Kings. Now get out there and beat Calgary on Thursday!

Jump On The Bandwagon

Remember on Saturday, how I mentioned that it would be 2 days before the MainStreamMedia and the Hockey BlogOsphere would be chiming in on the playoff chances of the Los Angeles Kings?
"Man, it is exciting to be a Kings fan right now. How long until the MainStreamMedia and the Hockey BlogOsphere start chatting up the possibility of the Kings grabbing that 8th spot. I give it 2 days."

Well... it's been 2 days. Let's check in, shall we?

Starting with the BlogOsphere... 2 from PuckDaddy at Yahoo.

"Don't look now but a recent 6-1 surge and 3-1 start to a five-game road trip has put young Los Angeles into the thick of the playoff chase." - PuckDaddy 2/7/09

And a feature about The Royal Half's favorite 19 Year Old defenseman, 19 Year Old Drew Doughty.

"We're a very good team that just underachieved in the first half of the season. We're better than a lot of teams that are in the playoff race right now."

They have been since Jan. 1, going 8-5-1 overall and 3-1 on a long road trip that ends on Long Island Tuesday night. Powered by two good offensive lines, solid goaltending from Jon Quick and a growing confidence from its young core, the Kings are three points out of the eighth seed."

And here comes the MainStreamMedia:

The Hockey News - Kings of the Castle
"The Kings have more than enough hope for the future; what they need now is a playoff berth to accentuate the learning curve of the young players already driving the team."

Scott Burnside at ESPN
"For our money, seeing the youthful Los Angeles Kings sneak in would probably be the biggest boon for the league. Having Los Angeles back in the playoff picture after a five-season absence would do wonders for the West Coast market (especially if Anaheim continues to flounder its way out of the playoffs). And it just might happen given the inability of any of the teams in the bottom half of the bracket to separate themselves from the pack.

The Kings have won three straight and six of seven, including wins over playoff-bound New Jersey, Washington and Chicago, and begin the week just three points out of eighth place."

And the Kings have finally made the first page of the TSN Power Rankings. Number 14 with a bullet!
"The Kings have won six of seven behind the quality goaltending of rookie Jonathan Quick and a return to expected production levels from first-liners Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown."

And last, but certainly not least... 22 Year Old goaltender Jon Quick was selected as the NHL's First Star this past week.
"Quick stopped 95 of 100 shots in posting three consecutive road victories, lifting the Kings (23-21-7, 53 points) within three points of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He stopped 29 shots in recording his third shutout of the season in a 1-0 victory at Ottawa Feb. 3, made 41 saves in a 5-4 victory at Washington Feb. 5 and concluded the week by making 25 stops in a 3-1 victory at New Jersey Feb. 7. The 23-year-old Milford, Conn. native improved his season record to 10-6-0 with a 2.38 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 18 games. He ranks third among NHL rookie goaltenders in victories behind Steve Mason of Columbus (19) and Pekka Rinne of Nashville (14)."

It seems that Dean Lombardi's Master Plan is all coming together.

All This Time...

The Los Angeles Kings struggles were simple... the team missed Jack Johnson! Did you see that spin-o-rama tonight? He may not have scored, but this team has looked much stronger since Jack Johnson has returned to the lineup a few games ago.

Well, what does a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks tell us? Blackhawk blogs will tell you it was just because the team was tired. Sure, they played the Ducks the night before but as Half Season Ticket Holder Buddy said tonight, the Blackhawks did their job... a win in Anaheim and a loss in LA. Who cares what they do in San Jose? (Well, it would be nice if they lose.)

But this win tells us that the Kings still have some life left in them. They have gained 7 out of a possible 8 points in the last 4 games. They took advantage of a sluggish Blackhawks team tonight... and that's what good teams do.

And now, the first of 3 big road trips looms ahead. Montreal on Saturday, then Ottawa, Washington, New Jersey and then the Islanders. That's right, the first of 3 road trips... the Kings also have a 5 game and a 6 game roadtrip coming up before the end of the season. This should get interesting.

The highlight of the night for me.... the Kings first power play that featured #23 Dustin Brown, #24 Alexander Frolov, #26 Michal Handzus, #27 Kyle Quincey and #28 Jarret Stoll. Nearly perfect symmetry... where is Matt Moulson when you need him???