Still pic of spaz fan banging against glass after Clifford scores.
My pecking order of most hated teams seems to change with that day’s schedule, but the top two spots are reserved for the Ducks and the Cancucks. There must be something about ending in “ucks” that brings out the hatred.
That being said, I have a strange admiration for the green monster for two reasons. 1) They haven’t won the cup, so they share a curse of sorts with the Kings and 2) They are a creative bunch of jerk-offs up there in Vancouver. After all, how in the hell did they pull off, “Hockey Lovin Homos” before LA? Or even San Jose for that matter? Very funny stuff. But I digress…
Despite a slew of injuries, the Canucks are still that good.
- Most goals in the NHL
- Allowed the fewest
- Best power-play
- Best penalty-kill
“No club in the League’s ‘expansion era’ (since 1967-68) has finished first in each of these categories in a single season,” reported Puck Daddy this morning.
Last night’s game reminded me a lot of last year’s playoff series between the two clubs. And I’m not the only one. “It was exactly like a playoff game,” Daniel Sedin said. The Kings held their own for much of the game but in the end, the Canucks were just too much. You know, just like last year. It makes me think of a levy holding back the water, but in the end, the water finds a way through.
So why is this a good thing?
Mainly because it gives the Kings a solid benchmark heading into these last 5 games and the playoffs. It almost felt like an elimination game, yet the post season has yet to begin. A dress rehearsal of sorts, allowing them to build off this loss. Learn from it. But what can they learn?
- They can hang with the best, despite losing the BIG2.
- The pressure is off because of losing the BIG2.
- They didn’t shrink from the challenge, they embraced it.
- The rookie Cliffy got an early taste of what not to do in the Playoffs.
- Quick now knows what’s in store and last night was a reminder to be extra ready.
- They’re believing in themselves as a team, rather than just saying it.
So despite the devastating loss of Kopi and JW, this Kings team can still compete. Sure, offense is going to be a big issue. However, just like last night, they know they can squeak out low scoring victories if a few bounces go their way. It will also give them incentive to make sure that one thing, above all, doesn’t happen…finish in 8th. I trust this team realizes that they can win just about any other series in the first round other than against the Canucks.
Last night might have been like a bad dream, but sometimes bad dreams are exactly what we need to give us that extra kick in the butt. And for that, I thank the Canucks.
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