Girls Hockey Trip 2010: The Countdown Begins

Every year, Nadine and I take a trip together to see a hockey game in a city besides LA. Sometimes it's a game involving the Kings, and sometimes it's not. Our inaugural trip last year, for example, was called the "Rock the Red Tour" since our city of choice was Washington, DC and our game was the Caps vs. Penguins. What an epic battle that was! Ovie vs. Sid, and the game came down to a shoot-out....where Ovie whiffed and Sid scored the game winner.

This year, exactly one week from TODAY, I'll be waking up here...



And getting ready to see this....



You may envy me now, Kings fans.

Now, I just need a name for this tour, and I want your help. Please comment and give me your suggestions for the title of our Girls Hockey Trip 2010, which will appear in all blog posts, Twitter hashtags, and other social media related activities chronicling this epic event. The winning name will receive a blog feature, a Kings "Pride-Passion-Power" T-shirt, and my undying gratitude.

Good luck! And GO KINGS!!

The Thought Locker: Las Vegas Travel Edition

• Just once, I would love to have my rental car upgraded when I can actually enjoy it. This one is only fun when it's not raining.

• Leave it to Las Vegas to ruin a perfectly good muscle car by putting purple neon glow-stick material in the cup holder.

• Sometimes a late night drive-thru really comes in handy.

• Only in Henderson, NV do you check into a hotel and are advised there is no one in the room above you, so you won't be disturbed by any loud noises.

• I wonder how often the rental car shuttle driver has to collect cocktails people shouldn't be bringing them on the bus...and where exactly do they go....

• A request to my fellow travelers...When 75% of the flights going through an airport are delayed and everyone and their mother is trying to sit down and eat, please do not take up enough space for 4 people unless you are a party of 4 people! We'll all get through this if everyone shares just a little.

• A "charging station" with no lights and non-working power outlets is a cruel joke.

• Nothing about being delayed leaving this place on a Monday night says "Party!"
  

Flat Stanley Meets the Kings!

Meg usually likes to sleep in on Sunday mornings, but she got me up early because we had something really special planned for today. After so many nights and weekends spent watching hockey games, we were finally getting to meet the players! I could hardly believe it!!

Meg says she gets to talk to the players every year at something called Tip-A-King. You buy tickets, and then pay for autographs and photos with the players. All the money benefits the LA Kings non-profit children's charity, Kings Care. So you're doing something for a really good cause, AND meeting really neat people!



I met SO MANY players today, I won't tell you about all of them. But I got all their signatures on my jersey, and I can't wait to show them to Mary when I get back to Rhode Island. I do want to share two of my favorite player stories from today.

The first is about Matt Greene, who plays defence just like Meg's favorite player, Drew Doughty. Matt is really cool and really FUNNY! Plus I love his hair. It looked like he just rolled out of bed! I wonder if I can teach my hair to do that?



Matt was neat because he recognized me right away and said, "Hey, Flat Stanley!" Turns out Matt hosted his own Flat Stanley a couple of years ago when he was playing hockey in Edmonton, Alberta (that's in Canada). He played there before he became a King. Matt's number is 2, his nickname is "Greener," and he's originally from Grand Ledge, Michigan. I need to pull out my map later and find out where that is. Maybe I can visit Matt there again some day!

Later on, we got to meet Jarrett Stoll.



His position is center and he's really good at doing something called "taking face-offs" during games, so Meg got to practice with him while I watched. The one downside of being flat is that you can't hold a hockey stick very well. It looks pretty hard, but Meg was actually able to sneak the puck by him once. I think he did it to make her feel better, but I won't tell her that.



Jarrett goes by the nick name "Stolly," but Greener calls him "Stollamole." I was never able to get a good answer on why that is. Jarrett also played in Edmonton with Matt Greene, but apparently he has never hosted a Flat Stanley. He was still really nice, and he's from a place called Mellville, Saskatchewan, which is in Canada. Another new place to find on my map!

Like I said, I met so many players there's no way I could feature them all, but here's a list every player and where they're from.





We also saw some of Meg's friends, including Nick and Mike who are part of the Kings Crew and give out t-shirts and other prizes during games. They were able to sneak Meg a free one, but don't tell anybody.



Tip-A-King was definitely the coolest thing I have ever done. Thanks to all the Kings players for being so nice! I'm gonna keep my signed jersey forever!

Kings vs Sharks: Close, But No Cigar

Whenever the Kings and Sharks get together at Staples Center, a few things are pretty much guaranteed to happen..

• The Kings fans will boo every time Rob Blake touches the puck.
• I will meet crazy but tremendously likeable Sharks fans.
  
• I will marvel at the fabulousness that is Doug Murray's hockey hair.
• The game itself will be a battle of epic proportions.

Such was the case last night, and the Sharks rolled into town, smelling blood and ready to avenge the beating they received at the hands of my Kings last Monday. For the Kings, this match-up was critical not just because the Sharks are a key division rival, but also because a loss tonight would continue our current losing skid - not exactly a pattern we can keep repeating if we have a serious eye on the play-offs. As our coach likes to say, these are "measuring stick" games.

Unfortunately a win was not to be, in spite of a very solid effort by the Kings. It was especially encouraging to see a good effort from Erik Ersberg, our back-up goalie. Because as every successful play-off hockey team knows, you need a tested back-up in case the unforseen happens. And we ARE going to the play-offs this year....so thanks Iceberg!

I did get a special little surprise in the 3rd period, when I got to hang out with my buddies Jen, Brianna and Mike in Mike's aunt's luxury box! Watching the camera guys was fascinating, and it was extra fun having free hot dogs, sodas and beer within arms reach. Thanks Mikey!





And now for Opposing Team Hottie of the Night." I always love me some Doug Murray, but I thought I recalled naming him to my "Hottie" team already, and when I checked back to my post from the Kings last home game against the Sharks in October, I confirmed I was right. Luckily, the Sharks defence corps gives me some options, so my pick this time is Drew's fellow Team Canada Olympic teammate Dan Boyle.



Team Canada is looking HOT this year! And they're gonna look even better when they win Gold.

Kings vs Blues: How Did It All Go So Wrong?

After an incredible performance against Detroit Thursday night that still didn't garner a win, the Kings felt, rightly so, that if they just played at the level of the Detroit game the rest of the season, we would win more games than we lost. Sounds pretty simple. But it only took 14 seconds for the Kings to understand just how hard that task was going to be.

That's right. The Blues scored on the first play off the draw, 14 SECONDS into the game. And in the strangest turn of events I've ever seen, they were simultaneously assessed a bench minor for an illegal roster because someone BESIDES one of their starters took the ice. But the illegal player didn't score the goal, so it still counted. Huh?

To say we played flat the first two periods is probably an understatement. The Blues dominated the pace, took us off our game plan, at hit us with everything they had physically (yes, I'm looking at YOU Brad Winchester!). When we finally got our act together and found some energy in the 3rd period, Drew's 2 assists and Brandon Segal's first NHL goal were little comfort for the Kings fans. It was just too little too late.

The "powerless power play" returned, with the Kings unable to convert on any of their chances. Matt Greene and Sean O'Donnell has 3 fights between them, yet our "big gun" Raitas Ivanans didn't drop a glove all night. And Bailey got so upset, he broke his drum trying to rally the crowd.



Then to add insult to injury, Drew got tagged with a slashing penalty in the last minute of the game. What a depressing scoreboard to finish the game...



So with the loss, the Kings are left barely hanging on to the number 8 spot in the conference standings, a mere point head of Detroit. And if we don't get our mojo back before Monday, we're almost guaranteed to be Shark bait as San Jose rolls into town, no doubt looking to avenge the Kings incredible victory this past Monday. Hockey is a funny game.

There were a few lighter moments throughout the evening. On the walk over through the courtyard at LA Live, I glimpsed participants in the San Manuel Poker Tournament. Kings entertainment announcer Jay Flats was holding court and showing off his poker dealing skills.



I also caught Kings alum Brad Norton looking on. And yes, he's almost a head taller than everyone else around him, which made him easy to spot.



The during the game, I stood behind this guy in the Wetzel's Pretzel line. Ah, my poor Sully...how is it that every team you join seems to struggle (his current crew, the Edmonton Oilers, is dead last in the Western Conference)? But more importantly, why would you have one players name on your jersey, then have ANOTHER player sign it? Yes, that's Dustin Brown's signature in the 2. Fan Fail!



Now on to the "Opposing Team Hotties of the Night." Eric Brewer caught my eye immediately because he's cute AND he skates without his helmet. He's a little more clean cut than I usually like, but very nice. AND he's the captain....we LOVE those.



But the Hottie of the Night goes firmly to 24 year old center TJ Oshie of Mt. Vernon, WA. You just have to love those rosy cheeks and that great hockey hair. Congrats TJ!



Just as I was headed back to my seat, confident I had the right "Hottie," Nadine spotted former king Derek "Army" Armstrong! HOLY COW! So I ran back down to the glass, yelling "We miss you Army!" and determined to get some good photos and make him an honorary "Hottie of the Night."



It was so great to see him Army back on the ice at Staples Center. During his tenure in LA, Army was a huge fan favorite, great clubhouse guy, and team ping pong champion! He was always incredibly approachable and ready with that great smile. Nice to have you back Army...I just wish you were still in a Kings uniform!

One other happy post-script before I go! Big thanks to Martha Bilbao Cognac, who read my last blog and linked me to her photo of the famous "Our #8 is better than your #8" from the Caps game. You can view it at the Drew Doughty Fan Club group on Facebook.

Now I'm off to help the Kings find their mojo....

The Thought Locker: Random Friday Edition

Sometimes I just get a crazy craving for really cheap, bad-for-you food. So when I saw the blue and orange box on the end cap at Target, I knew I had to have it.



Making a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese is one of life's simple pleasures. Of course, it must be made - and eaten - with my favorite beat-up wooden spoon. It's the first thing I ever stole from my Mom's kitchen when I got my own place after college, and it's still my very favorite thing to cook with. Yes, it's enough pasta for 4 people. But I ate the whole thing. Directly out of the saucepan. Because I can. It's one of the last joys of single life, right up there with drinking milk straight from the carton. Because when you're single, no one's looking.



The junk food gods must have pushed me towards that box of Mac & Cheese, because I needed some comfort food when I arrived home to this:



And a fine layer of dust over EVERYTHING in my apartment.



They're redoing all the hallways in the building, so everything looks like this right now:



It's supposed to look great when it's done. Of course, it was supposed to be done TODAY based on the schedule the building sent out before Christmas. But as anyone who has lived in California for any period of time knows, nothing around here gets done on time or on budget. I guess that explains why the state is such a financial mess right now and why our leader is know as "The Governator."

On the plus side, my weekend to-do list is one item shorter. No point in cleaning this weekend, since it's pretty much a losing battle until they get the hallway cleaned up.

And since I was trying not to get covered in dust coming in the door as I was sipping my second Starbucks of the day, I managed to spill coffee down the front of my light colored 100% silk blouse. Thank goodness it's hand-washable....



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Is it just me, or does the baby on the Q-Tip package look like it's thinking, "Hey Mom, I'm sure you know what you're doing, but are you REALLY gonna stick that up my nose? "




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When a fun Friday night in Los Angeles is watching a beer league hockey game, you know you're either

• A) hopelessly addicted to hockey in any form
  
• B) A really awesome friend
• C) Both

I answered C.



Props to Mikey, Tim and the Caribou team. You deserved a win, even though Mikey went to the box and couldn't get a sniff at the goal crease. Tim - your goal rocked, man.

Kings vs Wings: When Your Best Just Isn't Enough

When your hockey team puts 52 shots on net against the back-up goaltender for the other team, and your opponent only gets 25 shots, the reasonable likelihood is that your team is going to win. Unless your team is the Kings, your opponent is the Detroit Red Wings, and the goalie is Jimmy Howard. In short, tonight's loss was one of those games that reminds you why sports builds character. We did everything possible to win that game, but we just didn't.

Right from the start, the pace of this game was crazy - fast, aggressive, amazing hockey. The Kings had some great chances in front of the net, but just couldn't manage to convert. We even almost had a short-handed goal on a penalty kill while Drew was in the penalty box for hooking. Then, just as he came back out on the ice to join the play and finish the period, Detroit right winger Dan Cleary grabbed a rebound that bounced off our goalie Jon Quick and scored... with .2 SECONDS LEFT! Two tenths of a second! What?????

The second period was equally fast and furious, and Drew had a couple of tough defensive assignments in Dan Cleary and Todd Bertuzzi, shown here.



I know he doesn't look like much here during warm-ups, blowing bubbles with his gum, but he's a general pain in the rear. I got some great video of he and Drew locking sticks, so if you're on Facebook look for it on the Drew Doughty Fan Club site. Not in Drew's fan club? Then get your rear in gear and join the fun!

But by far the biggest disappointment this period was being on the power play the last 2 minutes and not converting. Apparently we left our power play in San Jose Monday night.

Things were just as tough in the third, but the Kings hung in there and finally kept banging at the net enough for Ryan Smyth to score a goal with about 4 minutes left, assisted by Dustin Brown and Jarrett Stoll. Then, just when it looked like overtime was imminent, Darren Helm jammed the puck right under Quicker's left pad, and scored the game winner...with 20 seconds left.

What a heart breaker. I can safely say it's gonna take me a while to get over this one.

Given that I'm reeling from such a tough loss, it almost pains me to name the "Opposing Team Hottie of the Night" for Detroit. But in the spirit of true sportsmanship, I will admit there are some very attractive men on this team.

Pavel Datsyuk is always a contender....but not this time.



Then we have the "Hockey Jesus" himself, Henrik Zetterberg. Again, nice but no.



In the end, the big thumbs up goes to right winger Patrick Eaves, of Calgary, AB. And I have 3 photos that will leave you with no doubt I made the correct choice.

Photo #1 - Intense blue eyes....



Photo #2 - Hockey hair...



And photo #3 - hockey booty.....



What's not to like? Congratulations Patrick, and welcome to my hottie club!

The Kings next match-up is Saturday's contest against the St. Louis Blues. At least it's a Saturday night game, so hopefully this loss doesn't grow legs and turn into a streak. And maybe next time our best will be enough.