After the way things went down at the Kings-Ducks last meeting January 14th, there was no question tonight was going to get ugly. The question was just how many feathers would fly. The last round ended with the Kings routing the Ducks 4-0, and the Ducks Bobby Ryan retaliating late in the game with an ugly hit on the Kings' Oscar Moller. Then Brad Richardson and Drew Doughty came to his defense, and it got nasty. Drew, who never fights, much less gets angry, looked ready to rip Ryan's head off. So tonight, Mr. Ryan was public enemy number one.
Last year, immediate retaliation would have been a given. This year, we're a playoff team, and the Ducks are outside the playoff picture looking in. So while the Kings weren't going to accept nonsense in their house, I was hoping we wouldn't lose our composure for no reason...there is just too much at stake. And no lousy Duck is worth us missing the playoffs.
It didn't take long for things to get physical. Only a few shifts into the first period, Kings heavyweight Raitas Ivanas dropped the gloves and went rounds with well-known Ducks enforcer George Parros. From my vantage point, it was hard to say who won since they both landed some heavy blows, but it didn't really matter. The message on both sides was sent. We were in for long night.
Then the Ducks drew first blood 5:40 in and scored on a Jason Blake wrist shot. The Kings play was up and down the rest of the first, but Anze Kopitar managed to come through and tie it up at 18:54. Things looked better in the second period, as the Kings pulled ahead to a 3-1 lead aided by goals from Wayne Simmonds and Michal Handzus. But the highlight of the 2nd period, without a doubt, was Drew's MONSTER hip check on none other than Mr. Bobby Ryan, launching him into the boards. The Ducks may have struck first, but the Kings were not going away without a BIG fight.
In the 3rd, the Kings added a goal to the tally just 1:44 in (thank you Jack Johnson!), then proceeded to go into free-fall and give away 3 unanswered goals in about six and a half minutes. With just over 10 minutes of hockey left, it was gut check time. And no one checked his gut harder than our Captain Dustin Brown, who scored the go-ahead goal at 14:28. With a 5-4 lead, the Kings never looked back, and Anze Kopitar scored the final goal to finish the Duck roast and give the Kings a 6-4 win. And most importantly, we extended our winning streak to 8 GAMES! A tie for the longest win streak in franchise history!
Eight was a special number tonight for more than one reason. I also added to my collection of #8 gear and picked up Drew's stick in the Kings Care auction! Signed and everything! She shoots, she scores!!!!!!
It's gonna take me a long time to come down from all the excitement tonight....
Now on to hot men. As most people know, Ducks are unattractive creatures in general, which pretty much negates having an "Opposing Team Hottie of the Night." But the Ducks are blessed to have Teemu Selanne on their roster. Ah, Teemu. You are so pretty, why must you be a Duck? At least it's nice to see Teemu's is jaw back in place, even if it is with the assistance of 3 screws. Such a tragedy! At least he can afford a good plastic surgeon when he retires.
EIGHT IS GREAT! Do we dare DREAM that nine might be fine? We'll find out Saturday when the Kings face the Detroit Red Wings. GO KINGS GO!
Last year, immediate retaliation would have been a given. This year, we're a playoff team, and the Ducks are outside the playoff picture looking in. So while the Kings weren't going to accept nonsense in their house, I was hoping we wouldn't lose our composure for no reason...there is just too much at stake. And no lousy Duck is worth us missing the playoffs.
It didn't take long for things to get physical. Only a few shifts into the first period, Kings heavyweight Raitas Ivanas dropped the gloves and went rounds with well-known Ducks enforcer George Parros. From my vantage point, it was hard to say who won since they both landed some heavy blows, but it didn't really matter. The message on both sides was sent. We were in for long night.
Then the Ducks drew first blood 5:40 in and scored on a Jason Blake wrist shot. The Kings play was up and down the rest of the first, but Anze Kopitar managed to come through and tie it up at 18:54. Things looked better in the second period, as the Kings pulled ahead to a 3-1 lead aided by goals from Wayne Simmonds and Michal Handzus. But the highlight of the 2nd period, without a doubt, was Drew's MONSTER hip check on none other than Mr. Bobby Ryan, launching him into the boards. The Ducks may have struck first, but the Kings were not going away without a BIG fight.
In the 3rd, the Kings added a goal to the tally just 1:44 in (thank you Jack Johnson!), then proceeded to go into free-fall and give away 3 unanswered goals in about six and a half minutes. With just over 10 minutes of hockey left, it was gut check time. And no one checked his gut harder than our Captain Dustin Brown, who scored the go-ahead goal at 14:28. With a 5-4 lead, the Kings never looked back, and Anze Kopitar scored the final goal to finish the Duck roast and give the Kings a 6-4 win. And most importantly, we extended our winning streak to 8 GAMES! A tie for the longest win streak in franchise history!
Eight was a special number tonight for more than one reason. I also added to my collection of #8 gear and picked up Drew's stick in the Kings Care auction! Signed and everything! She shoots, she scores!!!!!!
It's gonna take me a long time to come down from all the excitement tonight....
Now on to hot men. As most people know, Ducks are unattractive creatures in general, which pretty much negates having an "Opposing Team Hottie of the Night." But the Ducks are blessed to have Teemu Selanne on their roster. Ah, Teemu. You are so pretty, why must you be a Duck? At least it's nice to see Teemu's is jaw back in place, even if it is with the assistance of 3 screws. Such a tragedy! At least he can afford a good plastic surgeon when he retires.
EIGHT IS GREAT! Do we dare DREAM that nine might be fine? We'll find out Saturday when the Kings face the Detroit Red Wings. GO KINGS GO!
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