And like that, the series is tied. The Los Angeles Kings lose a difficult game on the road 2-1 to the San Jose Sharks to net the series at 2 games a piece. In this new episode, Keith makes his triumphant return as we breakdown Game 4, give a Playoff Beard update, present our Top Ten fun facts about San Jose, California and preview Game 5 at Staples Center. GO Kings!
Featured Songs: “Battlelines” and “The People” by Bella Novela and “Gameshow” by Suburban Rhythm.
The 2nd round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs has begun and the Kings start off strong with a shutout W. In this episode we breakdown Game 1 between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks, discuss the similarities and history between the 2 teams, give a Playoff Beard update and preview Game 2 at Staples Center. Go Kings! http://www.kingscast.net
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The Kings showed their ability to come from behind in their first-round matchup against the St. Louis Blues, crawling out of a two-games to none ditch.
Right now, their focus is staying ahead; staying ahead of the San Jose Sharks – a team that is equally as capable of overcoming a two-game deficit as the Kings are.
They say a two-goal lead is the hardest to hold in hockey.
A two-game lead, well that can certainly behold the same difficult implications.
The Kings will have to push to stay ahead of the San Jose Sharks heading into Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinals series Tuesday evening at HP Pavilion, after falling in Game 3 by way of a 2-1 score that saw the Sharks regain life with a game-winning tally off the stick of Logan Couture early in the OT frame.
The Sharks have lost only twice this season in their home confines at HP Pavilion, where they’ve played a total of 27 games.
The Kings, on the other hand, have only won a single (1) game on the road since the month of March.
How do you define difficult?
Comfortable doesn’t exist right now.
Winning in Northern California’s hostile confines can give the Kings a taste of comfort, however.
Game 4 can send the Sharks to the brink.
It can also make this much closer of a series than you would want it to be.
Putting a Spin on it
How do you want it?
Short-sighted: The Kings continue to be without a few key players from their lineup, namely Jarret Stoll, who hasn’t returned to the lineup since the horrendous blindsided blow he took from the now-suspended Raffi Torres in Game 1 of the series.
Stoll, who has continually grown to be one of the most dependable and useful players on the roster, is being sorely missed. Jarret Stoll is the Kings’ best forward in the faceoff circle, he’s a staple on the Kings’ penalty-kill, and he’s a regular on the Kings’ powerplay rotation.
The Kings, who had been able to regroup to cover the loss of Jarret Stoll in Game 2 by shutting down the Sharks on special teams, were fully exposed Saturday night in Game 3.
They’re getting drilled in the faceoff circle. And that’s oh so crucial to the San Jose Sharks‘ success.
Also missing is Kyle Clifford, who has been a big-time performer in the past against San Jose in the postseason, and Matt Greene, who is a specialist in clearing out opponent’s traffic in front of Jonathan Quick – and traffic, without a doubt, has been the Sharks’ strongest strategy.
But thankfully, and fruitfully, the Kings are getting some assistance from the prospects.
From Manchester
With Love
Youth Groove: The Kings’ have been getting some unexpected appearances by youth prospects in their system during the postseason, with Tyler Toffoli, Jake Muzzin, and Tanner Pearson all making their NHL postseason debuts this year.
To raise the bar a level, Tanner Pearson didn’t just make his NHL postseason debut Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks, but his NHL debut as well.
The kid couldn’t have been level-headed. There’s no way.
He might’ve been as coherent as a teenager five beers deep.
Shockingly, however, Tyler Toffoli has been performing in the big-time picture magnificently. And, well, quite impressively.
He presented himself as a worthwhile asset after being added to the lineup in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the St. Louis Blues. And he’s apparently proved himself as well, as head coach Darryl Sutter has stuck with the young, inexperienced forward.
Tyler Toffoli has registered points in the Kings’ previous two games against the San Jose Sharks, assisting on Trevor Lewis‘ game-tying goal in Game 2 at Staples Center, and scoring the Kings’ only goal in Game 3 at HP Pavilion.
It’s a youth movement, if you will.
Purple Days
Flavor of the Week: The prospects in the Kings’ organization who came up from the AHL‘s Manchester Monarchs were a big story during last year’s postseason run as well, but those names have changed.
Call it a Sophomore slump if you want, because Dwight King and Jordan Nolan have been disturbingly silent not just during the playoffs, but the season as a whole.
Young bloods.
Like Jordan
Take a Seat
Point at Detroit
How about burying one, Dwight. Then we’ll talk Detroit.
Dwight King hasn’t registered a goal since the Kings’ March 25th contest against the Chicago Blackhawks. He’s got two assists through nine playoff games this season, and holds a less than impressive -1 rating.
Don’t talk back, kid
Speakeasy
Game Four Pour
Short-Circuit: The Kings were able to eliminate San Jose’s biggest threat from their offensive tandem throughout the first two games of the series, but crumbled Saturday night in the worst way, and time, possible.
The San Jose Sharks swept through the Western Conference Quarterfinals with ease against the Vancouver Canucks, and it had quite a bit to do with special teams offensive production.
San Jose scored seven powerplay goals against the Vancouver Canucks in their four-game sweep against Brititsh Columbia’s finest.
In their first two contests against the Kings in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Sharks were shutout on their man-advantage opportunities, going 0-7 against the Kings on their powerplay.
However, three is key.
The Sharks buried both of their goals against the Kings in Game 3 Saturday night on the powerplay advantage.
As you know, that’s the kiss of death when playing the San Jose Sharks.
And as you know…
Someone needs to make a leading statement on this team.
And they need to do it in Game 4.
Word has it, he’s back
Word has it.
How ironic, the Ottawa Senators won their Game 3 contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2nd OT period on Sunday.
We’ve got ourselves a sorely-missed asset back in the mix. Maybe.
Comeback Cliff
Call us Rich
But who’s Counting
Who’s Fronting
Richy Rich.
Let’s hope for Christmas-like expectations Tuesday night.
Puck drops for Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals Tuesday night at 7:00PM PST against the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion.
Episode 196 KingsCast TV: LAK-SJS Game 1 WCSF RECAP – HERE
Episode 197 KingsCast TV: LAK-SJS Game 2 WCSF RECAP – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on — Facebook - Twitter - Youtube
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The Kings will stay within California State boundaries for their Western Conference Semifinals series after their triumphant comeback to oust the St. Louis Blues in six games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, winning four straight contests against St. Louis after facing an early, and gut-checking two-loss deficit.
How they continue to grow.
A best-of-seven date is slated to start against the San Jose Sharks in Downtown Los Angeles Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Everything was aligned for the Kings’ second-round series to involve our neighbors from Orange County – the other NHL club from Southern California.
The Anaheim Ducks just couldn’t keep up.
The Kings will move up, and do so against their Pacific Division opponent from up North, who they have recent postseason history against.
San Jose was the opponent in the Kings 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals series, and it was a lopsided affair that turned out to be much closer than expected, and was certainly closer than the results that series ultimately showed.
The Sharks prevailed against us in the 2011 NHL Playoffs, but it was so against a much younger, weaker Kings roster.
If you compare the growth and improvement of each of these rosters since that 2011 postseason bout, the Kings’ plus-side blows the Sharks out of the water.
The Kings were without Anze Kopitar in that one and only previous postseason matchup with the San Jose Sharks, while he was recovering from a broken ankle that left him out of the lineup indefinitely.
But the young stars were definite.
Doughty’s dos
No Dought
Drew Doughty, who was moderately quiet throughout the majority of the regular season, but ended up with a respectable six goals and 16 assists for 22 points at season’s end, reignited his clutch offensive ways Friday night against the St. Louis Blues in Game six, notching the Kings’ first goal of the contest with the kind of moves and suave we’ve come to know all too well from #8 the previous two years.
Playoff ‘Bout
Youth Hangout
Plus Some: The Kings’ youth carried them through their last postseason matchup against the San Jose Sharks in 2011, but their development – plus some absolutely crucial additions to the roster via the aggressive ways of GM Dean Lombardi, should make this upcoming Western Conference Semifinals series a great opportunity not just for revenge, but overall self-proof of what this roster has beautifully grown to become to be.
Kyle Clifford‘s the one player who you can connect with both the Kings’ current position, and the Kings’ playoff matchup against the San Jose Sharks in April of 2011.
He was, at times, the best player for the Kings in this past Western Conference Quarterfinals series against the St. Louis Blues.
And as an NHL rookie, he was rocking the same type of impact.
Red Dog, Light
Purple light: The Kings, in that series, would retire a bit of history, wearing purple on the road for the final time in their 3-1 victory in Game 5 of the 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals.
The player to tally the third and final goal for the Kings in their purple visiting sweaters was Dustin Penner, the same player to bury the game-winning tally on Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues.
Oil left in the Tank
The White/Purple road uniforms were retired that year.
The Black/Purple home uniforms were retired this year.
Dustin Penner won’t be a King next year.
It’s just mother nature’s cycle.
Laser Penner
Don’t get caught up with Dustin Penner now, just love his current play. It’s like a dying light bulb shining it’s brightest before it’s, well, ending.
If playoffs was in her Pepsi cup
This innocent little girl would be choking.
Whether it be like Old Times
Or what Today finds
Just let it Roll
Fresh Feelings
The Kings played the San Jose Sharks only four times during this season’s shortened and compacted schedule due to the NHL‘s rather lengthy lockout.
They pulled out ahead in the end, but just barely, finishing with a 2-1-1 record against Northern California’s black and teal.
Each team has earned two points when playing in home confines. The Kings, however, were able to snag a point from San Jose at HP Pavilion on April 16th, forcing that night’s date with the Sharks to go past regulation.
The Kings outscored the Sharks 13-10 during regulation play.
It’s all off the books now.
Don’t depend on anything.
Not even a Hail Mary
Puck drops against the San Jose Sharks for Game 1 of the NHL‘s Western Conference Semifinals Tuesday night at 7:00PM PST in Downtown Los Angeles at Staples Center.
Episode 194 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 5 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Episode 195 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 6 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on — Facebook - Twitter - Youtube
For the second consecutive year, the Los Angeles Kings have defeated the St. Louis Blues to advance in the NHL Playoffs. In this new episode, Chris is once again joined by hockey blogger Alex Kinkopf to discuss Game 6, present a Playoff Beard Update (sort of), give an official See Ya! to the Blues and breakdown the Pros & Cons of playing the Sharks or Ducks in the next round. Go Kings!
The tide has turned! In a series momentum shift the Los Angeles Kings have taken a 3-2 lead after a tight OT win against the St. Louis Blues. In this episode, KingsCast blogger Alex Kinkopf co-hosts as we discuss Game 5, breakdown the scoring, goaltending & physicality of the series, present a Playoff Beard update, preview Game 6 and read the best post-win comments from Facebook. Close it out Kings!
Boom! The LA Kings storm back to take the game and even the series with the St. Louis Blues at 2 games a piece. In this new installment we breakdown Game 4, discuss the full team effort, give a Playoff Beard update and preview Game 5 in St. Louis. Go Kings!
That’s more like it! The Los Angeles Kings hold on for a 1-0 win against the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center in Game 3, making the series 2-1 Blues. In this episode we breakdown the game, preview Game 4, discuss Staples Center concessions, update our Playoff beard tracker and provide genius commentary. Go Kings!
The Stanley Cup title defense has begun! In this episode we breakdown Game 1 between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues, make witty observations & give our Top 5 changes Coach Sutter should make for Game 2. Go Kings!
The 2013 NHL regular season concludes as the Kings land in the 5 spot. In this installment we quickly breakdown the games against the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings & San Jose Sharks, present our Top 5 Reasons why playing the St. Louis Blues in Round 1 is awesome, introduce our KingsCast Playoff Beard tracker and preview the playoffs.
