Thread: Wounded and Limping

By Zeke Quezada

I don’t know if that new license plate frame that the Kings handed out a couple of games ago will ever find a home. In Southern California, when you see another person displaying some allegiance to your hockey team you want to go over and talk about the one thing you have in common. You don’t see enough Hockey fans around here. These days you see the L.A. Kings sticker or sweater and you want sit down and commiserate with your fellow martyr.

Somehow, King fans manage to remain loyal to a team that has done very little to keep its constituency. How many of you can recall the endless sellouts earlier this season? What a gravy train that AEG, the Kings Parent Company, was riding. Against the Dallas Stars the Kings failed to sellout even though a great deal of people had two for one tickets. I paced around the box office area trying to give away a seat and I had no takers.

You cannot even give away a seat to a game where you have the opportunity to buy a $10 beer, have a $4 hot dog and share a $5 bag of peanuts. Why don’t people want to have a seat and watch a few million dollar athletes be unproductive at their jobs? I guess because parking at the DMV and at the Post Office is free.

Unfortunately, I continue to attend these sorry displays of passionless hockey. Against the Dallas Stars I was treated to an early exhibition of how not to start a crucial game. By giving up two goals in the first 6 minutes the Kings pretty much took the pressure off themselves. They could consider the game over and chalk it up to injuries or bad bounces.

I have to consider that maybe the coaching staff and players are all a bit too busy to watch as much hockey as I do but I have to believe somebody in the organization understands the game. The term ugly goal comes to mind. If you saw the Dallas Stars score in the first period you get a good indication of what it means to generate offense. Toss the puck up front, let the players get lucky with a deflection and then head over to the bench and celebrate. Do this a few times and then collect your two points.

The Kings are getting people like Dustin Brown and Luc Robitaille to the front of the net but you have other players trying to audition for a highlight reel with the perfect shot. A little news to those of you I am paying to watch, the local news will barely pay attention if you’re winning, so do not expect to be the lead story if you have a great shot from the point.

Somebody should ban slapshots and require each player on the ice to have at least two shots on goal per game. Charge anyone who does not get the puck on net and give the money to charity. If you have someone in front just jam it into a spot where players can grind out a few ugly goals.

It always seems easy for us fans to critique the play of those we watch on the ice but let me tell you it is not easy trying to digest a $9 Manhattan and a $4 pretzel while your hockey team is making a mockery of the game.

I do not know if there was a highlight in the game where Dallas eventually skated off with a 4-1 victory. Sure, Sean Avery had a shorthanded goal that involved some hard work and good hustle but the penalty he took in the second period gave the Stars the opportunity to go up by four. Jason LaBarbera looked good in the third period but is this really the time to revert to the platoon system of goaltending?

How much more pain will we endure before we are finally put out of our misery by this team that we so passionately follow?

By the way Stanley Cup playoff ticket deadline is March 21st so make your checks payable to Los Angeles Kings.

well.... trying to be positive here....



Parros finally looked good in a fight.


.... er... yeah.

Zeke Archives

Thank god for TIVO......It takes 2 1/2 hours of s*it and compresses it to just over an hour of ***** ......

I have come to the harsh reality that with the ownership, management and coaching staff the way it is, mediocrity is just fine as long as the seats are filled and people continue to pay of overpriced food and drink. It's all about the bottom line with them if they were serious about winning they would have pulled the trigger on the Luongo trade and added someone who would play defense and not give up so many odd man rushes. Yeah we have had injuries but that is no excuse there is a lot of talent on this team and sitting at home watching the game I just don't see any passion out there except for Dustin Brown.

Originally Posted by h8duxs

... if they were serious about winning they would have pulled the trigger on the Luongo trade ...

But Luongo is not going to score goals. Even though Garon gave up 4 goals last night, I though he looked good. (stopped another penalty shot too)

I've read that DT was checking into getting Luongo, but Florida wanted a first round pick and DT would not give that up. I must say that DT did the right thing by passing in that trade.

For the last 4 minutes 19 seconds, the Kings and AM tried a new system - NO GOALIE- and guess what it worked no goals were scored. Maybe AEG could eliminate goalies, forwards, defencemen and coaches. This would keep us under the cap and they could give us a 10% discount on season tickets (with 5 upgrades).

Originally Posted by leaffan

For the last 4 minutes 19 seconds, the Kings and AM tried a new system - NO GOALIE- and guess what it worked no goals were scored. Maybe AEG could eliminate goalies, forwards, defencemen and coaches. This would keep us under the cap and they could give us a 10% discount on season tickets (with 5 upgrades).

That crossed my mind last night.

rinkrat i couldn't agree with you more. i have always denird it but the trade deadline showed me that this team doesn't give a crap about winning the stanley cup. the team needed someone that could control the disgusting powerplay (awesome work Van Boxmeer, i hope you're ready to collect that unemployment check next year) and a goalie that wouldnt fold under the pressure when the team relies on him. Sure the last couple outings the kings have shown no passion on either side of the ice but garon let by some weak goals and he looks worse every game. Luongo would have been the best goalie this team has seen since Hrudey. The one year the team actually spent money for a good goalie they went to the finals. But who would want a chance to win the cup . and what's up with 'no upgrades available for tonight's game' bull*****. i dont know whether its AM, DT or AEG but thet better get their heads out off their @$$ or else the kings are gonna be MIA during the playoffs. And to the coaches dont you dare practice on your special teams cuz if you do you might win a gew games and you know we wouldn't want that to happen.
You guys are still my team but WTF is wrong with you?