We have all heard the phrase or, if you like, cliché that "defense wins championships." It comes from Bear Bryant and, expanded, reads, "offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships." Bear Bryant was a football coach for the University of Alabama. He won a lot of championships...a long time ago. Back when football was as boring as it is today, except the players made less money and the … [Read more...]
JEREMY ROENICK CALLS PATRICK MARLEAU’S PERFORMANCE “GUTLESS”: PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF
May 8, 2011 By
There is a little buzz in the media air courtesy of the mouth, Jeremy Roenick. In the Versus post game, Jeremy Roenick commented about Patrick Marleau's game as a "gutless, GUTLESS performance by Marleau tonight. But we'll talk about that later." Pavel Datsyuk did make Marleau look a bit foolish before the dynamic Russian fed the puck to Nicklas Lidstrom who, courtesy of fellow Stromtrooper, … [Read more...]
PAULSEN’S NHL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS: PART 2
May 1, 2011 By
Guest writer Anthony Paulsen brings you his round 2 NHL playoff predictions What a great first round of playoff hockey we’ve witnessed this year! I’ll go as far as to say that this is probably the most exciting first round of playoffs that we’ve seen in at least a decade. Nothing is more exciting than a game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs and this year saw four of them. I also feel pretty … [Read more...]
TOP 10 REASONS MURRAY KEPT HIS HANDS TO HIMSELF
April 26, 2011 By
What do you do immediately after you win a playoff series? Well if your name is Devin Setoguchi or you are a 12 year old girl, you bust out your phone and tweet away. Setoguchi's tweet, which I wont post here because my feelings on twitter go something to the effect of 'fuck twitter', drew attention to the fact that Kings' coach Terry Murray did not go through the handshake line at center ice … [Read more...]
THE JONATHAN QUICK SCOUTING REPORT
April 26, 2011 By
This is an interesting look at a scouting report of our very own Jonathan Quick. The Goalie Guild conducted this scouting report and gave it to the San Jose Sharks. Now that the series is over, they have published it. It provides their insight into Quick's strengths and weaknesses. Here is a snippet from the article. Click on the link for more. Prior to the start of the Los Angeles Kings vs. … [Read more...]
SUPERSTITIONS, ODDS AND PRESSURE. A GAME SIX JAMBALAYA
April 25, 2011 By
Last night, I broke out and held the black jersey with the Scribe on the back and proud number 9. I put it back on the rack. That jersey won big in San Jose for game 2 but lost badly in games 3 and 4 at home. Tonight, we're at home. I picked it up again. I cursed Surly. I am not superstitious. He is. I held the black jersey in my right hand and stared at it. I reached and picked up … [Read more...]
TOP 7 WAYS WE CAN HELP THE LA KINGS WIN GAME 6 AT STAPLES CENTER
April 23, 2011 By
Going into game 6, it's time to think outside the box. We are 2-1 in the goldfish bowl and 0-2 at home. Thus, I devised the following top 7 ideas to finally win a home game. 1. Boo the team and do that ignorant Beat LA chant. 2. Make Staples Center look like a high school gym. 3. Pretend Joe Thornton is captain material. 4. Do that stupid open and close Sharks' bite thing with our arms … [Read more...]
GO KINGS GO!
April 23, 2011 By
It's been a tough week for our team and fans. Goodness knows, my head is still spinning especially after that game 4 performance. Regardless, let us not forget that we are all Kings' fans. We want the same thing - this team to win. We take their success and failure personally because we are emotionally and financially invested in it and, for some, have been so for decades. Surly will be at the … [Read more...]
WIN ONE FOR SURLY!
April 22, 2011 By
So, the Surly one is going to San Jose for game 5. He likely wishes it wasn't the elimination game. Alas, when life gives you lemons, you throw them at your opponent's head and kick him in the nuts. Hockey and lemonade don't really work. So, what did Terry Murray do to help the Kings win one for Surly? Scott Parse. That's right. The answer to our defensive woes. When I think Scotty, I think … [Read more...]
HOCKEY, LIKE LIFE, DOESN’T COME WITH GUARANTEES
April 19, 2011 By
Vancouver went into Chicago today and intended to close out the series. They beat the Blackhawks three consecutive games. Tonight was fait accompli. Chicago handed the Canucks their ass 7-2, the same Canucks that looked unbeatable. Sharks in five. That's all we heard. We took them to overtime in game one. Could have won it. Didn't. We fed them their teeth in game two. Tonight, before we … [Read more...]
TWO LA KINGS’ FANS IN THE SHARK TANK
April 17, 2011 By
“Bring me those LA Kings’ fans!" the burly San Jose Airport TSA security officer yelled out to the deliberate snap of his rubber glove. He wore a villainous smile as my friend Marc and I, with jerseys donned in full glory, made our way through the security check point toward the imminent full body scan. Only twelve hours before, we celebrated a 4-0 victory that tied our first round playoff … [Read more...]
KEVIN WESTGARTH: CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
April 17, 2011 By
It is no small secret that Scribe and I have had our fair share of complaints directed at Los Angeles Kings enforcer Kevin Westgarth. Sometimes our vitriol is targeted more squarely at Terry Murray and his decisions to play Westy in too many games where we feel his presence is less important than that of a more well rounded skater. Usually we just rail against a roster spot being eaten up by a … [Read more...]
KINGS DEMORALIZE SHARKS IN GAME 2
April 16, 2011 By
No Kopitar? Kings have no chance. Well wait a minute, they lost game 1 but hey they didn't look too out of place. Shit, now no Jarret Stoll? Top 2 centers out of the lineup, why bother playing the game? Tonight is why they play the games. Tonight is why two teams don't simply hand over lineups to a statistician and ask for a score. Tonight hockey was played... by at least one team. I'm not … [Read more...]
NHL JUSTICE: JARRET STOLL SUSPENDED ONE GAME
April 15, 2011 By
There is no sense overreacting to the Jarret Stoll one game suspension. I expected it. The NHL punishes results more than conduct or intent. If the NHL was, hypothetically, the local District Attorney's office and Jason Demers took a gun and fired four shots at Ryan Smyth but missed, he would get a private reprimand while Jarret Stoll kicking a rock that ricochets and hits Ian White in the head … [Read more...]
A GREAT GAME ENDS IN DISAPPOINTMENT – SHARKS TAKE GAME ONE IN OT 3-2
April 14, 2011 By
An excellent game. The LA Kings showed up in the second period and never wavered. They had their chances, God knows the game nearly ended on Brad Richardson's stick. Alas, hockey is a game of inches. I don't know how this series will end. I do know this. The Kings proved the Sharks mortal and well within our ability to beat even without Anze Kopitar. Build on this effort and this series is … [Read more...]
TOP TEN WAYS L.A. CAN STEAL THE KINGS v. SHARKS SERIES
April 11, 2011 By
10. While the Kings have the puck but unable to get shots on net, David Courtney belts out over the mic "LOS ANGELES GOAL! His 26th goal and 2nd of the game, AN-ZE KOPITAR!" In the ensuing Sharks' confusion, all five Kings drive to the net and bang it home on the third attempt after missing the net two additional times. 9. Terry Murray fakes an epileptic seizure and falls on the ice during the … [Read more...]
SO CAL v. NO CAL. THE LA KINGS DRAW THE SAN JOSE SHARKS IN PLAYOFF ROUND 1
April 10, 2011 By
LA Kings v. San Jose Sharks So Cal v. No Cal The Hockey Gods have humbled the Chicago Blackhawks and put their playoff hope at the mercy of the Dallas Stars v. Minnesota Wild. Out of this, we drew our foes to the north. Excited? I am just glad we made the playoffs and while the prospect of Justin Williams being back for game one does tickle my fan-cy, my expectations are tempered, even … [Read more...]
LA KINGS POST GAME: KINGS BEAT SHARKS IN SHOOTOUT 4-3
March 24, 2011 By
I am not certain which was uglier - Joe Thornton's mug or the officiating. Let's compare. The morons in stripes called a phantom slashing penalty against Jarret Stoll (as a friend explained in a text, you can't "slash upward"), a second non-existent tripping penalty against Alec Martinez in the third period, missed several muggings behind the goal including a trip against Oscar Moller, … [Read more...]
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