Game 56: Kings 4, Ducks 3

How sublime is this? The Kings are now 11th in the West, just three points out of the playoffs and two points away from the Ducks in the standings. In February, no less.

Proving that their last homestand was just a hiccup on their push toward the playoffs, the Kings came out and brought the fight to the league's second-most penalized team. They also must've listened to the L.A. Time's Helene Elliott's advice to strike first. Did you know: the Kings are 22-6-3 when they score first? Hmmmmmm.

So, it begs the question, why the late collapses at Staples? Could it be... the ice? I hate to talk about the elephant in the room, but maybe it's the surface. Staples Center doesn't rank high on either the best of worst ice surfaces, so it's pretty hard to gauge. But other than that, there's really no explanation as to why they are stymied at Staples the last part of the season.

Guess it's a good thing the Kings only play at Staples eight times in 26 games the rest of the way.

Now is also a great time to be a Kings fan, mostly because all the Ducks "fans" are coming home to roost. It has been too long, and finally the bandwagoners from the Ducks Stanley Cup 2007 team have finally thrown in the towel. They've moved on to other things, like rooting for the Angels, the Arsenal, or, gasp... for the Kings. Guess Cuba Gooding Jr. will finally try to sever ties with the Ducks. But I won't forget, Cuba. Never.

Everyone seems focused on the Kings grabbing the eighth seed in the West, which is understandable. Well, except for RudyKelly. Just making the playoffs would make many fans happy. But let's take a look at two of the teams ahead of the Kings in the playoff standings that must play out of their heads to continue to contend:

Minnesota has a similar schedule to L.A., as they will mostly be on the road the rest of the way. Next up for the Wild are home games against the Flames and the Wings, two teams that have dominated them in recent years and they haven't tallied a win against this season. Their road record is likely to plummet from 11-13-0, which it is on Feb. 19.

For Columbus, 13 of their last 24 games are on the road, where they have also been 11-13-0. 13 of their next 23 games are against playoff contenders. This storybook team lives and dies with Steve Mason. He'll take them as far as he can, which is hopefully past St. Louis, a team he's only beaten once this season and a team they play three more times, twice on the road.

Things are so tight in the West, don't be surprised if the Kings surprise everyone and snatch the sixth seed. If they do that, they'll avoid meeting either Detroit or San Jose in the first, which is a good thing. But first things first. The Kings travel to San Jose to take on the Western Conference's best team. The Kings haven't beaten them yet this season, but have played them close. And the Sharks haven't faced Jonny Quick.

• AP: Believe it: Kings bag their limit of Ducks

"We had a lot of time on the 5-on-3, we were in the [Ducks zone] pretty much the whole time," Anze Kopitar said. "I think the penalty kill was tired and we were mixing it up and shooting from all over and Brownie made a great play and I was able to get up over [Hiller's] pad."

Editor's note: Write it down: Feb. 18, 2008. Helene Elliott became a believer
• LA Times: Kings continue to show maturity

The next Southern California hockey team that will make the NHL playoffs is the Kings.
The Kings likely will finish a few points out of the top eight and that's not a bad fate. They're playing pressure games for the first time as a team -- many players for the first time in their NHL careers -- and they can only get better for it.

• Daily News: Kings beat Ducks to stay on cusp of playoff race

"Obviously getting those two points was huge at this time of the year," Kings captain Dustin Brown said. "It's definitely a boost in morale. Having to battle back in those (last two) games and come up just short, it kind of took the wind out of our sails, but we were able to finish up strong here tonight, and it was a big win for this team."

• Yahoo: Team report

The loss Wednesday cost the Ducks organization $50,000. Before the game, the Kings and Ducks agreed that the loser of the season series would donate that sum to the charitable foundation of the winning team. With the victory, the Kings won the season series with a 3-2-1 record.

• LAKings.com: Royal road report

They said it

“The team has been playing great on the road. We’ve played great at home, but we just ran into a couple of hot goalies that stole a couple of games. We are battling here. We’re battling for that (playoff) spot.”—Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, whose team has won five consecutive road games.

Looking through purple-hued goggles

• The Royal Half: Duck Soup

I think "Hays" was in a haze of his own today... even by Brian Hayward standards. Not only did he imply that Dustin Brown is a diver but he also was convinced that Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer ran over Kings goaltender Jon Quick... then Quick skated back to his crease... and then skated back behind the net to punch Niedermayer. He was convinced of it. Even his broadcast partner John "Rimming" Ahlers called him out as crazy.

• A Queen Among Kings: Utter Ridiculousness & A Solid Showing

Tonight's game against the Anaheim Ducks was a different beast altogether. The Kings never trailed in the entire 60 minutes and ended the game without having any brain cramps. Interestingly enough the Kings only tossed 26 shots on Jonas Hiller while Jonathan Quick saw 31, but I kind of see this as the Kings playing a more efficient game, especially compared to that strange game on Monday.

• Purple Crushed Velvet: Kings 4, Ducks 3

For all the griping I do about listening to ridiculous comments and questions from non-hockey fans, having to listen to Brian Hayward on the TV broadcast is infinitely more aggravating.

• Examiner.com:  Battle of SoCal goes into hibernation for now

Imagine the outrage in Ontario if Toronto and Ottawa didn’t play during the last third of the season head-to-head. You can just hear the New York hockey writers screaming for Gary Bettman’s head if the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils played the final seven weeks of the season without one game against each other. But in an area where the league would love to see a rivalry flourish between the Ducks and the Kings, meaning sold out buildings, full-blown media coverage and fan frenzy about the two teams, fans here are left to ponder what might have been.

From the other side of the ice, the Anaheim view

• OC Register: Ducks facing a ‘grim outlook'

"I was going down with quite a bit of speed," Scott Niedermayer said. "The puck was going behind the net. I don't think I really ran him (Quick) over. I don't know if our feet collided or what happened exactly. It was a stupid play. It wasn't my intent. It happened. I guess one thing I am disappointed about is getting the roughing call. I'm pretty sure I didn't touch anybody after it happened."

• OCRegister's Duck Blog: Carlyle finds no fault with Ducks captain Niedermayer

“I was surprised that the goaltender didn’t get anything, because he was the guy who turned around and started punching with his gloves on,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said.

• OC Register: Reality, standings staring at the Ducks' faces

"I can't remember when the last time we've (not) been in the picture," right wing Chris Kunitz said. "It's definitely an awakening."

• AnaheimDucks.com: Ducks Blog

Personally, I kind of prefer it when the Kings are lousy. It's so much easier to make fun of them. And by the way, if somehow the Ducks miss the playoffs and the Kings make it? Just the thought makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.

•ChrisPronger.com: Trade Rumors ?? as of Feb 12/09

Well without beating around the bush i will get straight ot the point.  There have been many, many trade rumors regarding my name over the past month or so.  Let's get something straight i have not asked for a trade nor will i ask for a trade.  In my opinion i believe the rumors are part of an overzealous group of reporters who are putting the Ducks in the "sellers" category at the trade deadline and trying to drum up fan interest in there stories and TV shows. They put us, the Ducks, in this category because we have not played up to expectations thus far. With 25 games to go and around 10 left before the deadline we hope to put these rumors to rest with the we play the rest of the season and on into the playoffs.

• On The Pond: Ducks Beat by Kings; Season Lost

Things went to hell in a handbasket with both Niedermayers in the penalty box that gave the Kings a 5 on 3 power play for 1:49.  Kings virtually sealed it up with less than five minutes to play, this time from Anze Kopitar.  That nauseating feeling had nothing to do with the stomach flu going around.

Editor's note: I can't decide if you should read this blog imagining a high-pitched whining girl, or an ear-splitting screech from a wailing banchee.
• Girl with a puck: Are you KIDDING ME?!

I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS TEAM...THESE AMAZING PLAYERS...CAN HAVE SUCH AN AWFUL SEASON!!!
We're not talking 1 or 2 weeks of crap here people...we're talking MONTHS of crap. It's so...It's just...and...they just...I just...
I HAVE NO FLIPPIN' WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peeping the dailies