The Los Angeles Kings suck.
I could just stop there and that would suffice, but my editor would
be unhappy. So I'll throw in some filler.
It started out real well, with a gritty come from behind victory
over the Red Wings in Detroit. This was highlighted by the
game-winning goal in overtime by Luc Robitaille. Having received a
pass from the corner right in front of the net, Robitaille fell
down while turning. But he had the presence of mind and skill to
put it on net while on the ice and put in the winner. Yee-haw. A
very good win indeed.
Then the Kings played the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are the only
team in the West that are worse than the Kings, and the Kings have
schooled the Hawks in recent history. So a win over them isn't
that impressive. But still, two wins in a row is darn good.
Then reality struck. They played the Stars in the next game. They
played tough and made it a close game, but they were stung in the
first minute by a quick goal. This game showed two different
things about the Kings: that they have absolutely no offense
outside of Luc Robitaille and that they are so inconsistent that
even when they play 59 minutes of good hockey that the one minute
is still a killer.
Now the next three games were real depressing. The Ducks just
outclassed and out hustled the Kings. And the Kings only showed up
for about 15 minutes of play during the Nashville game. And the
Flames, well, that game was the worst. They don't even have Theo
Fleury anymore, yet they still come onto the Kings home ice and
beat the Kings like a rented mule.
Now for other news:
Pavel Rosa was sent to Long Beach. Apparently Larry Robinson and
Dave Taylor didn't like his work ethic. But I wonder why just send
Rosa to the minors? Somehow I still see Yanic Perreault playing
with the big team. And how about sending people down for just bad
play? Then Jozef Stumpel would be on the way to Springfield or
Long Beach darn quick. Especially if he keeps on making those nice
clearing passes right up the middle to the stick of an opposing
player. And for those who still try and make excuses for him by
saying that he was injured early in the season: well, build a
bridge and get over it already. Jeez, it isn't as if he fell into
a wood chipper and is trying to play without any legs. And I
always thought you were supposed to play hurt in hockey. I seem to
remember a Tomas Sandstrom playing versus the Oilers in the
playoffs with a broken bone in his leg. Sure he didn't play 100%
but he also didn't make mental mistakes that cost goals.
One of the last true hustlers on the Kings, Ray Ferraro, was held
out due to the flu. No truth to the rumor that he was on suicide
watch, being distraught over being on a team that was worse than
some of those Isles teams he was on. Nathan Lafayette was called
up to take his spot in the lineup.
Vladimir Tsyplakov got fitted with a brace and began practicing with
the Kings again on Monday. He should be able to play against the
Canucks on the following Saturday.
