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Saturday night’s contest with the OC’s orange and black has prime-time written on it in more ways than one.

It trumps thoughts of Dodger Stadium from wherever you are to Chavez Ravine and back.

Don’t get swayed.

At this time last year, the Kings were already in the midst of their unseen and delightfully unexpected playoff run, a run to a Stanley Cup championship that wasn’t just a historic feat in the NHL, but in the world of sports all together.

Tonight marks the one-year date of Dustin Brown going short-circuit against the Vancouver Canucks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Maybe they didn’t see it coming

Look back at it

Look now, it’s Prime Time

The NHL will spotlight it’s attention on the league’s two clubs from Southern California Saturday, which is certainly a postseason precursor with both the Kings and Anaheim Ducks extremely well en rout to solidifying playoff positions. Anaheim has already clinched a postseason berth.

The Kings are as close as it comes if we’re going to talk mathematics.

Staples Center has the Kings’ 42nd contest of the season slated for an 8:00PM PST puck-drop Saturday night, which is unprecedented for hockey contests in Downtown Los Angeles.

This will be the first time, in the 20 possible seasons it could have happened since the Anaheim Ducks‘ franchise was inaugurated in 1993, that both the Kings and the Ducks will qualify for the postseason in the same year. 19 seasons if you delete the lockout that wiped out the entire 2005-’06 NHL season.

Denver Relations

Both clubs are coming off of appearances against the NHL‘s last-place Colorado Avalanche. The Anaheim Ducks were owned in every asset Wednesday night against Colorado, losing 4-1, right after former Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere called out his current Avalanche teammates.

The Kings fared quite a bit better off against Colorado, but did allow the game a to get a bit too close for comfort. After pouncing on Sami Aittokallio early, a 20-year old rookie out of Finland making his first-career NHL start, the game slowed down rapidly.

When you’re playing a bad team, and the pace of the game slows down, it’s not a good thing.

The Kings played extra hockey against Colorado, only their sixth contest to extend into OT/SO this season. All three shooters for the Kings in the shootout frame (Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar) scored to earn a full two points, and surrender one to a hapless team in the standings.

Well done, especially considering the last two shootouts the Kings went into – which were against the Minnesota Wild, and of course, the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings faltered terribly in both, with Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier failing to stop one opponent shot respectively, surrendering three breakaway bids apiece.

Shootout Suave

The Kings were able to solve their shootout problems Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche by evading any expectations from their goaltender. Opposition had scored on the Kings in the shootout on every shot in their past two show outs in a breakaway contest.

They had allowed goals on the opposition’s previous seven shootout attempts leading up to Thursday night.

This time around, the Kings took their notes to the net, quieting the Colorado Avalanche and the hot-mouthed Jean-Sebastian Giguere by doing it the only way best – scoring on every shot you take.

This time, they took back momentum. When you’re on home-ice, you’ve got the choice to take the first shot in the shootout. That can be the deal breaker.

Sometimes the first shot does it. Because then, the flood gates are cracked open.

Let’s call it the can-opener

See you Saturday

Big Date: Tonight will mark the Kings’ fourth and final meeting against the Anaheim Ducks this season, who they hold a 1-1-1 record against in the campaign’s previous three meetings. In the season series, each club has earned a full two points when playing in their home building.

If that trend continues to ride true, Downtown Los Angeles should be an attractive setting for tonight’s affair.

Jonathan Quick will get the call – his third straight start between the pipes.

Puck drops against the Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center at 8:00PM PST.

Episode 187 KingsCast TV: Find us on our iPhones – HERE
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Four straight, and it hasn’t been prettier.

The Kings knocked off the Anaheim Ducks Monday night in utterly convincing fashion at Staples Center, handing their cross-town rival and Pacific Division leader their first loss in seven contests. It came in a 5-2 rout with three unanswered third-period markers.

Highlighted by Dustin Brown going bar-down.

The sexiest goal seen this season, bar none.

Iron Dance

crisp•y ['krIspI]

adj. crisp·i·er, crisp·i·est

1: 17:53 LAK Dustin Brown (6) Snap Shot – Assists: A. Kopitar (8) & J. Williams (7)
2: Firm but easily broken or crumbled; crisp.

You didn’t know?

Corner treatment: This isn’t the first time Dustin Brown has undressed an Anaheim goaltender high from the slot with a laser to the top-right corner. In fact, Brown’s beamer last night just about mocked his actions seen back in December of 2011.

Déjà vu

All aboard: Dustin Brown‘s tally last December against the Anaheim Ducks tied the contest late, which granted extra hockey that saw the Kings capitalize on the Captain’s efforts to win the game in a shootout.

Brown’s goal Monday night was just as important, but even prettier, once again tieing the score at two, this time paving way to Vyacheslav Voynov‘s goal, all together completely deflating Anaheim’s roster.

As for Dustin Brown‘s right-hand man? Well, he’s left-handed, and he’s Anze Kopitar. In Brown’s two similar goals shown above, the primary assist has come off the stick of none other than Kopitar himself. Kopitar dabbled in last night’s action, accounting for three assists – including Vyacheslav Voynov‘s game winner, and Dustin Brown‘s bar-down equalizer.

If you’re analyzing past the red-light, you’ll notice Dustin Brown‘s complete game looks to be coming back into form. This atones for his play without the puck – especially in the physicality department.

In the previous four contests, Brown has laid 21 hits on opposing players. He’s most dangerous when inducing open-ice contact, and he seemed to finally catch his timing last Tuesday in Alberta against the Edmonton Oilers – laying five hits, labeling the middle of the ice a danger-zone for opposition.

He’s also planted nine shots on opposing goaltenders in the Kings’ last four games. That might have something to do with his current three-game goal streak.

The only thing louder than Dustin Brown‘s play of late, was the iron the Kings’ Captain struck last night.

Call it welding, fools

Not so..

Got them Slippers on

After Tuesday’s slew of contests, the Kings (9-6-2) sit at 10th-place in the Western Conference with 20 points. However, they’re just one point out of housing themselves in a postseason-eligible position. This is what sets the storyline for Wednesday night’s date with the Detroit Red Wings at Staples Center.

The Red Wings (9-7-3), who the Kings have two game in-hand of, hold the Western Conference‘s final playoff berth right now with 21 points. The Kings already have the long-term advantage on Detroit with four possible point in their favor, but Wednesday night will put the club’s will to the test.

The Kings skated with the Detroit Red Wings in Michigan at Joe Louis Arena on Feburary 10th, losing 3-2 via a Jonathan Ericsson goal with just :04.5 seconds left in regulation.

The Kings have given away another contest in the final seconds this season, that to the Edmonton Oilers on January 24th. In the Kings’ second meeting with Edmonton, they returned the favor.

How about another round of Déjà vu?

It’ll call for a Frenzy

Puck drops 7:30PM PST Wednesday night at Staples Center against the Detroit Red Wings.

Episode 180 KingsCast TV: LA Kings Battle in Alberta – HERE
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Time for a tune-up. Sputtering to start, the Kings must now find their identity in hostile confines.

The Grammy Awards have pushed the Kings out of their home building, something they’ve become annually accustomed to.

You’ll identify the Kings by their white sweaters for the next three weeks.

A lengthy tour away from Los Angeles is in store. The Kings embark on a five-game road trip, starting tonight in Orange County against the Anaheim Ducks. Tonight’s contest calls for a quick, 45-minute trip along Intersate-5. Thereafter, the Kings are Midwest bound.

They’ll continue with visits to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, and finish off against the St. Louis Blues before returning to Staples Center for a quick one-game stint against the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 15th.

Don’t get comfortable with that visit, the Kings will round-up and head out for another three-game roady after February 15th’s affair. The Kings play seven of their next eight contests on the road.

There’s an early challenge for you.

Sometimes, though, you find your true self away from home.

Territory Talks

Duck Hunt: Tonight’s date with the Anaheim Ducks will be the first of four between the two Pacific Division rivals this season. As the Kings continue to find their feet, the Ducks have been rolling in feat.

Anaheim is off to an astounding 4-1-1 record, coming off of a 3-1 win against the Minnesota Wild last night at Honda Center. In fact, one of Anaheim’s only slips this season came in a 3-2 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks, who are atop the Pacific Division and entire NHL with an undefeated 7-0-0 record.

The Kings owned the Anaheim Ducks last season, however. In their six contests against the Ducks last year, the Kings went 5-1-0. All six contests were decided by one or two goals, including two of which were decided in a shootout.

Production on the offensive end will need to be discovered tonight by the Kings, who have mocked their scoring struggles which plagued this team much of last season. The Kings, through their first six games, have scored just 11 regulation goals.

This comes to an average of 1.77 goals per game, which places the Kings at 29th in the NHL in scoring, only ahead of the Nashville Predators – who the Kings played on Thursday night. Both clubs represented their statistics in true form Thursday, riding a 1-1 stalemate into an 8-round shootout, which the Kings lost.

Talk about struggling to score.

Well, there’s more, unfortunately. A vital factor to offensive success in the NHL is powerplay output. A 6.1% isn’t going to cut it. That percentage may look better than the fraction here. Out of the 33 Kings’ powerplay opportunities, they’ve scored just two times.

Finding the net will be crucial tonight in Anaheim, because Jonathan Quick can’t be dependant to bail you out every single night.

Call on Me?

Berning to play: We’re bound to see it happen at some point on this road-trip, but not tonight. Jonathan Quick will get the start in net for the Kings as Jonathan Bernier rides the pine yet again. Quick started for the Kings in all six contests against the Ducks last season.

Bernier hasn’t started a game since March 31st, 2012 – in which he made 20 saves in a 4-3 OT loss to the Minnesota Wild. The Kings’ backup goaltender started a grand total of 13 games last year – that surely ain’t every day playing.

With the whacky shortened schedule the Kings are dealing with, while taking into consideration the precautions needed to keep Jonathan Quick 100% healthy from his offseason back surgery, Bernier should get at least a handful of calls from coach Darryl Sutter this season.

13 games is pushing it, though.

I’d expect Bernier to start Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio.

In Jonathan Bernier‘s 48 career NHL starts with the Kings, he’s faced the Anaheim Ducks just twice. The latest came on December 26, 2010, where Bernier made 18 saves in a 4-1 Kings victory at Staples Center.

Bernier’s other start against Anaheim was his NHL debut in October of 2007 in London, England at that season’s European NHL Premiere series. 19 years-old at the time, Jonathan Bernier introduced himself to the league with a stalwart performance.

The Ducks, who were playing their first game since winning the Stanley Cup in the spring of 2007, were nearly shutout by the young Bernier. He stopped 26 of Anaheim’s 27 shots, bringing home a 4-1 win for the Kings.

Another King has had his “first” against the Anaheim Ducks.

Say Hey, Anze

Duck Roast

No Love Lost

Final Notes: Kyle Clifford, who has been skating with the Kings’ second-line, could return to play alongside Colin Fraser and Jordan Nolan on the fourth-line tonight.

Dustin Penner is expected to return to the Kings’ lineup, after being a healthy scratch for the previous four contests. He should be alongside Mike Richards and Jeff Carter on the second-line.

Puck drops at 7:00PM PST against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center.

Episode 177: L.A Kings Raise the Banner – HERE
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The Los Angeles Kings and KingsCast are back! In this better-late-than-never season opener episode we discuss the raising of the Stanley Cup Championship banner, breakdown the Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks game and give our predictions for the Pacific Division and Western Conference. Buckle up for what should be a wild ride of a season!

You’ve seen the Internet memes. You’ve seen Sh*t Nobody Says, Sh*t White Girls Say, Sh*t Asian Girls Say, Sh*t Straight Guys Say to Gay Guys. But have you heard from Los Angeles Kings fans? Exactly. You haven’t. So, please enjoy Sh*t LA Kings Fans Don’t Say.

When the top team in the NHL comes to town and is known for playing a tight defensive game, do you really expect the Los Angeles Kings to drop five goals on them? Of course not. In this episode we talk about the Kings play of late, mention the games against the Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild as well as give our reasons why Terry Murray will not be fired. Do you think the Kings will replace coach Murray?

Sponsored by Barry’s Tickets. Enter the discount “kingscast25″ to get a 10% discount!

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Unfortunate Headshot

Cat Nipped: Thursday night’s meet with the Florida Panthers brought home two points for the Kings by way of a 2-1 victory, but at an extremely healthy cost. Willie Mitchell, the most stable Kings defenseman other than Rob Scuderi, lasted one shift before calling the night in order to tend to an undisclosed lower body injury – never to return. Mike Richards, undoubtedly the Kings’ most vital asset on the offensive side so far this season, suffered a solid – yet subtle, blow to the head from Florida’s Sean Bergenheim. Richards, who has been placed on the Injured Reserve, is very, very likely to be suffering from concussion symptoms.

Not to say our defense has struggled, because it really hasn’t. But, it has been unstable in terms of personnel and pairing, which has lost this blue-line’s aggressive impact in the offensive zone. Mitchell poses to be a new missing threat for the Kings’ back-end, the loss of a stay-at-home defenseman. So far, Davis Drewiske has filled the gap, and he may continue to dress even if Alec Martinez returns before Mitchell does. Martinez has shown to be somewhat of a liability in the Kings’ zone, Drewiske could possibly see all games available until Willie Mitchell returns to maintain solidity in the defensive zone.

Talk about the last guy you want to see seriously injured, the guy with 10 points in his previous 11 contests, 9 of those points being goals. Mike Richards, he’s been the spotlight performer in all aspects of the Kings’ offense, 5-on-5, the powerplay, and the penalty kill (two shorthanded goals, a hangnail away from three). There wasn’t much luck without Richards in uniform Saturday afternoon, a lone goal being scored off of a Dustin Penner deflection overshadowed by a game filled with missed opportunities and draggy puck movement.

Have you seen puck movement like this from Kings jerseys once this year? Here’s a nice example of entering the offensive zone in valiant form, rather than taking the puck wide for a weak, bad-angle shot with no bodies to even seek rebounds.

At least Kostitsyn’s got ties with the Russian Mafia.
That’s kinda cool to couple with an NHL gig

Just to finish

Broken Record Player: You can’t depend on shot totals to link honest analysis, because for the Kings this season, it’s become somewhat of a scapegoat. And when saying this, that’s a mental reaction to their play. Sure, they’ve got no problem going shot-for-shot with another club over a 60-minute span, but if they were to cut down shot total, while raising the percentage of shot quality, we’d be in a better suit.

Looking simple can be great, looking simple can be awful. The difference? The mental status. The Kings are at awful, and it’s coming to the point where smart (yet non-intrusive) passes and decisions are being made to cure a terribly sterile offensive strategy. That means hitting Kopitar low along the boards, or going cross-ice to a defenseman with flat feet. There’s no such thing as simple wrist-shots, snap-shots, or anything you do with the puck to just get it ON NET with this offense. Well actually, I guess there is:

While you were in total shock of Dustin Penner scoring a goal, you missed the player (Doughty) who actually made it happen. Downright spectacular foot movement inside the zone, creates space for a simple snapper ON NET. Damnit! Can’t you see?!?

The Week Ahead: This may be the most important string of contests on the slate so far this season, the Kings are set for two Pacific Division puck-drops, and a meet with the team atop the entire Western Conference and the NHL. Tonight will be the third installment of the Kings’ six matchups with the Anaheim Ducks, who continue to sputter out of contention early, honed at the bottom of the Pacific Division and 14th in the Western Conference with a 1-7-2 record in their previous ten. If Bruce Boudreau is in fact the fix for Anaheim, the results won’t show this year.

Then it’s the NHL‘s best in the Minnesota Wild, who have taken role atop the entire league with 37 points, currently running with four consecutive wins. Their offseason dealings with the San Jose Sharks have paid off dearly, both Dany Heatley (17 pts) and Devin Setoguchi (13 pts) providing serious output for their new club. To finish the week, it’s a meeting with the only club higher in the Pacific Division than the Kings – the Dallas Stars, who sit just one point ahead. This will already mark the fourth meeting this season with Dallas, the Kings faring well for the most part going 2-0-1; however November 23rd’s meltdown still remains a sour aftertaste.

The Five Goal Club: In the Kings’ 26 games played this year, they have managed to hit the 5-goal mark in just four of them. However, that’s where this week’s opponents share a common trait – the Kings have found offensive success against Anaheim (5-3W – 11/17), Minnesota (5-2W – 11/12), and Dallas (5-3W – 10/27). This doesn’t mean much, but facing clubs that the Kings have found relatively recent success against could be a notable mental jolt for this lost offensive group.

Ahh yes…Time for another round of this unecessarily labeled cross-town rivalry

Since Bob Miller no longer can stress the deliciousness of Carl’s Jr. chicken tenders, which are breaded “ON THE PREMISES”, I’ve yet to decide what’s better this season…

Telling us to “Feel the Mexcellence”

Or going bad-ass bold marketing the Outlaw Burger

No child’s play for the Kings this week, especially with Minnesota on the slate

Tune into KingsCast’s Episode 132 HERE
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The Los Angeles Kings were having a rough time lately, stuck in a non-elite, win every other game pattern. In this episode we talk about the last few games, the Kings need for scoring, the Russian invasion, an empty Manchester and jerseys you definitely don’t want to buy. Take a watch and let us know what you think in the comments below!

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Familiar Faces, Foe: The Kings, after a three-day hiatus from league play, occupy Staples Center tonight to finalize their current four-game homestand. It’ll be a cross-town back-to-back affair with the Anaheim Ducks tonight and tomorrow, both clubs hitting the highway to take ice in Orange County Thursday night. This will be the first time these two Pacific Division rivals meet this season.

-  Due to roster shortages in Los Angeles, both Andrei Loktionov and Viatcheslav Voynov will return to the Kings’ lineup tonight. Dustin Penner is out with a hand injury, Alec Martinez out with an apparent shoulder injury – both are on short-term IR.

- Colin Fraser, beside Mike Richards and Simon Gagne, has shown the makings to quite possibly be the Kings’ most valuable asset attained over the summer. Fraser is showing attributes that fit quite well into a 4th-line centerman role, where he’ll be positioned again tonight in his third game as a King. He’s been more involved than Ethan Moreau and Dustin Penner, tossing his frame around with 9 hits and finding opportunity with 1 goal on 2 shots in his first appearances.

- After the three-day break, expect Jonathan Quick to get the starting nod in both contests against the Anaheim Ducks, likewise Saturday afternoon against the Detroit Red Wings. I see Jonathan Bernier sliding into the rotation next Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

Reconfiguration – Rejuvenation?

Voynov Effect: Due to Viatcheslav Voynov‘s recall from the AHL‘s Manchester Monarchs to fill in for the injured Alec Martinez, the defensive lines will get shuffled a bit. Voynov, who appeared in 5 games for the Kings in October, was then filling in for Drew Doughty. Voynov’s stint was a respectable one, chipping in with 1 goal, 2 assists, 8 hits, 9 shots in his five appearances.

Voynov will be paired with Willie Mitchell‘s secure play, which is very sensible. The other two pairs will be Matt Greene with Rob Scuderi, and Drew Doughty with Jack Johnson. This creates a shutdown tandem of Greene and Scuderi, a balanced duo of experience and playing style in Voynov and Mitchell, and an all-facet threat with Doughty and Johnson’s partnership.

If nothing else, this will play extremely well into Terry Murray‘s matchup strategies, not many NHL clubs can ice three defensive pairings that resemble such a wide variety of strong attributes as the Kings can with these six players. Unless Voynov impresses to a degree in which the Kings would be foolish to designate him to the AHL again, expect the Chelyabinsk native to take assignment when Alec Martinez returns.

Top-Six Boost

Andrei’s Up: After failing to make the Kings’ roster out of training camp, Andrei Loktionov gets another jab at the NHL level. Loktionov’s past call-ups haven’t come with a lack of pressure, where he’s been accustomed to aggressive lineup configuration from Terry Murray. Loktionov has been thrown into vital roles on the top two lines in the majority of games he’s played as a King, switching from his accustomed role at center to left wing.

Loktionov finds himself in that position again, tabbed to hold the left wing spot on the second line with Mike Richards and Dustin Brown tonight. The high-pressure position as a top-six forward, and out of his natural position at center, actually fared all right last season. In 19 games with the Kings last season, Loktionov played along the left side of Anze Kopitar on the Kings’ top line. The results weren’t staggering, notching 4 goals and 3 assists in his ’10-’11 stint. In 17 games with the Manchester Monarchs this season, Loktionov leads the central New Hampshire club with 14 points, via 3 goals and 11 assists.

Loktionov will bring much-needed speed, something that has been a moderate issue for this offense. The bigger question regarding Loktionov will be his strength, how well he recovers, handles, and creates opportunity with loose pucks. Winning races to pucks has never been a flaw for Loktionov, his ability to attain control with heavy pressure has. The addition of Loktionov’s speed factor is an enticing look alongside Richards and Brown, but puck recovery and control will only make substantial use of that value.

Hey! Don’t get caught wearing the jersey of a former not so great underachiever like Alexander Frolov, when you can easily transform it into the jersey of someone who probably wont be that great but are maximizing their achievement ceiling like Colin Fraser!!

All you have to do is switch the ‘olov’ to ‘aser’ and you’re good to go. Just use some black tape, letter stencils, and some white paint or something and stop being a b*tch.

Here’s what Colin Fraser thinks about Alexander Frolov jerseys

Colin Fraser also doesn’t give a sh*t about mouth guards

There’s the face of a fourth-line centerman
Fraser and the Russians are on watch tonight

Bailey going Tony Montana on Wild Wing

Wouldn’t have, but it’s Kings-Ducks for two in a row. Back-to-back, Home-and-home.

Episode 129 – Exclusive ‘Tip A King’ Access HERE
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The regular season is winding down and the Western Conference remains tighter then ever! In this brand new installment we talk about the Blues, Ducks & Flames games, give our thoughts on booing your own team, the Jersey change for next season and the Justin Williams injury. Question of the Day; what do you think of the jersey changes?

This episode is brought to you by Grinder Threads.