Kings pummel Penguins in statement game
Game 16: Kings 5, Penguins 2
Quick, print this ticket out and put it in your wallet or purse. This is a one-time offer for new Kings fans who have just found out how good the Los Angeles Kings are and want to get in on the ground floor of this unique opportunity. The recipient of this ticket is proof that you are an original passenger of the Los Angeles Kings Bandwagon, and not some Johnny-Come-Lately fan with little understanding of the team or the sport.But we also realize that sometimes we have to thump our chests and claim to be 'real' fans. It's that validation that we crave, to prove that we've suffered through the lean times, and the success of the franchise also justifies on our fanaticism of the team. But why now?
After Thursday night's solid victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, and their All-World prized center, Sidney Crosby, it's important to start offering up that positive affirmation. The 5-2 win should be one of those season-changing games that defines a club. And right now, the Kings are being summed up with two words: We've Arrived.
The Penguins entered into the game on an 8-game road winning streak. Every though Evgeni Malkin was not in the lineup, the Pens are still one of the most dangerous teams in the league. They are tied with Colorado and San Jose for the most points. And right from the opening face-off, things ingitied. Anze Kopitar, the current points leader in the NHL, scored on a sweet goal, that had many fans in Staples ohhing and ahhing. However, the cheers quickly disappeared, when Jordan Staal scored less than a minute later to tie it up.
Where was I, you ask? Well, Jesse and I were stuck on the freeway carpool offramp, where we spent a good 15 minutes waiting to get off. And we were chugging down Figeuroa, waiting to get into an over-full lot when Kopitar scored, and getting out of the car when Staal scored. It's frustrating enough to miss any of the game due to traffic, but this was extremely maddening, as there was some sort of concert at Nokia, causing all the backup.
What started off as an exciting game Thursday night, quickly turned into a cavalcade of sloppy play in the second. The Kings' miscues and turnovers made for tough viewing at Staples. Jesse and I rolled our eyes when Chris Kunitz scored, as hundreds of Pen fans stood up and cheered loudly. The rest of Staples Center started to boo lustfully. Jesse pointed out that the boos weren't targeted at Quick and the defense, but those front-running fans. Even though the Kings were outshooting the Penguins, they were able to negate the Kings' top lines. Staples Center remained quiet, until the third period.
That when all hell broke loose. Kopitar scored his second of the game, and the crown livened up. Kopitar had just recently tallied his first hat trick against the Stars last month, and the fans wanted to see that again. Yells of "Shoot it, Kopi" and "Get it to Kopitar" were raining down from the rafters. When Jarret Stoll scored, all was forgotten, because now the Kings were leading. When Handzus scored less than 30 seconds later, the place went bizonkers.
Here were the gutty Kings, off to one of their greatest starts in franchise history, leading the Stanley Cup champions. It felt like a playoff atmosphere. When Dustin Brown scored, the crowd kept up a steady round of applause. And when the final horn bellowed, the Staples Center was as loud as I can recently remember.
Look, there's plenty of hockey left and anything can happen. But for tonight, the Kings took a big step in announcing that they are for real. All of the years of rebuilding and drafting and growing pains are paying off for fans. So cut that ticket out and display it proudly. If the Kings keep playing like they did against the Penguins, there's gonna be plenty more bandwagon fans coming out of the woodwork. You've have proof that you were here first.
• AP: Kings rally worth a look
"Our maturity level is a lot higher," said Kopitar, who has 26 points in 16 games. "We're playing with a lot of desperation, and that's a good thing. We were losing these kinds of games last year, going into the third period behind the champions. Now we're sticking with it for 60 minutes and getting the right result."• LA Times: Kings win battle of the best, beating Pittsburgh, 5-2
The Cup isn't won in November, but the Kings' performance in rallying for four goals in the third period of a stunning 5-2 victory at Staples Center indicated they are not intimidated by anyone, even a team that knows what it takes to be the last team standing in June.• LAKings.com: Third-period surge!
The noise told the story, the sustained, joyful roar that hasn't been heard from a Kings crowd in years. Thursday's sellout crowd had every reason to stand and cheer.They said it
"We talked a couple times in the game, in the first-period and second-period intermissions, about needing more of a sustained kind of attitude... I thought, in the third period, we finally got all of our people on board and everybody was doing the right stuff.” – Terry Murray, on imposing their will on the penguins in the third period.Around the Kingdom
“I think it’s a mixture of character and never letting up, really. I think it’s a big positive for us, knowing that we can be down going into the third (and win)." – Dustin Brown, on rallying in the third period.
• The Royal Half: There are new Kings in town
With a culture of losing that goes back nearly 40 years... what is a loyal Kings fan to do with these 2009-2010 Los Angeles Kings? Enjoy the f*#%ing ride... that's what!• LAKingsNews.com: Kings seek and destroy Penguins
A defining moment. The definition was dominance.• Bleacher Report: Kings-Penguins: Measuring Stick For Kings?
At first glance, this game tonight seemed to come at the perfect time for the Los Angeles Kings. Sitting second in the Pacific Division standings and off to one of their best starts in seven years, the defending champions would provide that measuring stick from which to gauge this year's squad.
From across the aisle, the Pittsburgh viewpoint
• Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins royally flushed by Kings in third period
Their expectations are so high that a loss like this one will really stick. That is the reality of life for the Penguins, who were stunned by a four-goal flurry from the Los Angeles Kings in just over 11 third-period minutes Thursday night, leading to a 5-2 defeat at Staples Center.• PensBurgh: King Anze and Los Angeles take down Pittsburgh 5-2
It's not even that Kopitar scored his two goals: the way he did it was almost effortless and very skillful. If he played in the eastern time zone he'd be one of the most hyped players in the game. He's definitely one of those guys like a Rick Nash or Ilya Kovalchuk that is worth watching any chance you get. A supremely talented player and Kopitar put on one of the best performances tonight that I've seen all season.• Empty Netters: Kings 5, Penguins 2 - 11-05-09
That was about as one-side of a period for the Penguins we've seen this season. The Kings completely dominated that final 20 minutes. They got to loose pucks. They attacked the offensive zone. The outskated the Penguins. They went to the net. They played like the Penguins.• PensUniverse: Pens lose; Missing Malkin
Kopitar's legit. Looks like Malkin out there.• PensEvolution: Pens vs. Kings Recrap
The highlight of the first period was when the Staples Center honored a U.S. Serviceman. The gentleman they put the camera on, a guy in the U.S. Navy, garnered instant applause. Then he held up a "Let's Go Pens" towel!!! People actually started booing him. I protested to anyone who could hear me, "don't boo our servicemen!" (Ed. note: I laughed hysterically at this when it happened. I'm honestly surprised this hasn't happened sooner)Peeping the dailies
I was there and It was SUBLIME! My most memorable moment was standing along with my entire section, during the last two shifts, SCREAMING. The Staples Center was rocking for the KINGS. I kept thinking this can be the future and I have to imagine the Kings felt it too. To validate that, the Kings win was the lead sports story on NBC News later - BEFORE - Lakers coverage. Co-workers of mine, who could care less about hockey, knew the Pens were in town and will also know the result. The buzz is real. I wanted this for the Kings so much. No OT, no shoot out, just a strong regulation win.
Great blog, thanks! It's going to be a good day.
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That was a damn good show by the kings. Im a huge pens fan but wow what a game. Kopitar is for real, he is big fast strong skilled ect....
The kings are a young skilled but extremely physical hockey club. I was really impressed. The penguins have to find a way to beat some good hockey clubs while down four great players. I do not however want to take away from the kings. They played phenominal and with the effort they played with yesterday, they are a serious contender in the west.
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