The Throne Room

From Disappointment, To Excitement, and Back Again

The past 3 Kings’ games, much like the season as a whole, have been a roller coaster ride. After a loss that was frankly, extremely disappointing at home against Nashville Monday night; the Kings mounted a collosal comeback to kick off their road trip in Boston and then played one of their worst games of the season in an awful 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh.

Monday’s game was frustrating to watch at times. Every time the Kings were able to gain momentum, they weren’t able to hold on to it. Nashville answered each of the Kings’ 3 goals quickly, scoring 3 of their 4 goals in the final 3 minutes of each period, including the game winner for Nashville. I was at the game live and chose not to DVR it (more like I forgot) but from where I was positioned at Staples Center, it looked like the officials blew a call that led to the GWG - Dan Hamhuis appeared to fail to hold the puck in at the blueline but the linesman didn’t blow the play down off sides. Hamhuis took a shot on net and Ryan Jones banged home the game winner. Frustrating as the apparent missed call was, it’s hard to say that the Kings deserved a point in that game.

Thursday’s game in Boston was a reversal of fortune in one period of play. The Kings were dominated by the East-leading Bruins for two periods, and trailed 2-0 going into the third period. Michal Handzus got a power play marker assisted by Wayne Simmonds and Teddy Purcell at about the halfway point of the period. Jon Quick held fort for the Kings and Drew Doughty scored assisted by Simmonds and Armstrong with 1:36 remaining to tie the game at 2. Dustin Brown would score from O’Donnell and Doughty with just 35 seconds remaining in OT to cap a huge comeback victory against the best team in the East (though they haven’t played like it lately by admission). I thought for sure the Kings would carry the momentum into Pittsburgh on Friday and would mount one final charge toward the 8th spot.

Unfortunately, that was not to be. The Kings played a mediocre game and got walked all over by the red hot Penguins. The Kings mounted little offensive pressure in the game and most of their 24 shots on Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury were from the perimeter. Many an Eastern Conference competitor has complained about the league’s officials giving Sidney Crosby superstar treatment, and after last night’s debacle at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh I can vouch for that. The Kings were called for a couple of penalties that were merely lovetaps on Crosby. I know Gretzky used to get calls like that but I don’t ever remember it being this bad. I have the utmost respect for Crosby as a player, but hockey is a contact sport. If the officials feel the need to protect Sid the Kid from any sort of contact, he ought to be Ice Dancing instead. I realize he is the league’s superstar darling and a huge marketing rake for the NHL, but how much more impressive would it seem if he were putting up the same numbers AND not getting an instant power play every time an opposing player breathes on him? I’m not in the camp who thinks Crosby a huge crybaby - anybody who thinks that hasn’t ever seen Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry play - but it’s a bit frustrating to know you can’t check the guy no matter what.

The Pens other superstar player, NHL leading scorer Evgeni Malkin, will likely be suspended by the NHL for a blatant cheap shot on Wayne Simmonds with seconds left in the 3rd period. As enraged as I am at Malkin for the hit, I’m equally enraged with Raitis Ivanans, who’s only job in the King lineup is to play the role of enforcer, for not pummeling Malkin at least enough to put the fear of God in him. Ivanans would likely be suspended but it would send a strong message that you don’t take a blatant head shot against one of the Kings’ young players. It’s the second time this season a similar incident has happened to a young Kings’ player and no retaliation has taken place. Fortunately, unlike the Artyukhin hit on Doughty (I still maintain that Artyukhin has no place in the NHL if he’s going to make a living hitting guys knee first, which he’s done to two other players since the Doughty hit), the NHL is stepping in to take disciplinary action. I expect Malkin to get off light since he is who he is. I’d be pleased with a 1-2 game suspension, ecstatic with a 3-5 game suspension. We’ll be lucky to get two. Malkin is a marketable superstar with no past offenses of this kind. The NHL has made a big deal about needing to crack down on head shots, and this is the perfect opportunity - a blatant headshot that occured at the end of a game in which the outcome wasn’t ever in doubt. A flat out cheap shot. Will be interesting to see if the league steps up and gives Malkin much more than a fine and a slap on the wrist.

The Kings remain 7 points out with 11 games remaining. While there are 22 points left on the table, the Kings, as improved as they are, haven’t given us a reason to believe they are going to all the sudden rattle off 11 straight. A playoff berth isn’t impossible by any means, but it is extremely unlikely. Regardless, this season has been a success in relative terms. Many thought the Kings would be worse than last years team. One point behind last years’ totals with 11 games left, it seems safe that we will pass that. I think the team will finish within one game, give or take of the .500 mark and end the season with around 80 points. Might be good enough for 3rd in the division, certainly good enough to finish ahead of Phoenix and Colorado in the West. While I haven’t given up all hope just yet, I have resigned myself to the fact that we will have to wait until next season to see playoff hockey at Staples. At least the Ducks won’t be in the playoffs either, which is at least some consolation.

Kings continue their road trip Sunday in Chicago against the Blackhawks, who are struggling of late. Kings have an opportunity to take the season series with Chicago with a victory. Game shows at noon California time but won’t be on FSN - if you’ve got Center Ice, enjoy the game.

-JS