Ah, the final post of 2011. Let me start by saying Happy New Year! Let’s hope 2012 has a Stanley Cup parade for Downtown Los Angeles. Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings brought in the new year by taking on an inconsistent and fragile Roberto (Sybil) Luongo and his Vancouver Canucks. Word of advice before you continue reading: Ketel One and WorePress don’t mix. I’ll do my best but may get a little sloppy so bear with me. Vancouver got on the board first with a goal that I could have scored. With all the Kings on one side of the ice, it was easy for one of the Sedin sisters, don’t ask me which one, I wouldn’t tell you if I knew. Anyhow, she made a blind pass to open ice and Bieksa scored on a shot that I could have put in the back of the net. 1-0 Canucks. Crap, we’re in for a long night… Brad Richardson got it back though with some gritty work down low, pounding in a rebound that Luongo couldn’t control. All tied at one after one. Awesome to see the Kings not deflate after giving one up early.
Cheesy picture, I know. Hard not to poke fun at these two and their soccer style of play. Anyhow, more drinks in and I must press on with the game. The Kings continued to pour on the pressure in the second – along with some feisty play that they must have taken from the Boston Bruins playbook. I didn’t think it was possible but Darryl Sutter has brought out a different Kings team. More determination, more jump, more everything. I love watching THIS team! Matt Greene and Anze Kopitar both broke scoring droughts, though Greene was more surprising than Kopitar. Alexander Burrows continued to be “The Biter”, playing ugly because he simply can’t play gritty without playing dirty. ADHD kicking in here but can’t we get rid of Jamie Kompon yet? The days of charity should be over. It’s a new year and it’s time to complete the change. 0 for God knows how many on the power play. COME ON! All other aspects of the Kings play have changed. This can no longer be considered coincidence or any . Well, scratch that. As I typed, Justin Williams scored a power play goal, making me look like an ass. Um, you can still fire Kompon though. K, thanks.
Wow, I can’t get over how dirty the Canucks play. It appears they can’t match gritty play so they compensate by playing dirty. Just an observation after watching them play so many games.
I have absolutely no way to transition to the following paragraph so I’m just gonna wrap it up now.
4-1 is the final. Kings win the last game of 2011, get a huge 2 points in the standings and take over 1st place in the Pacific Division heading into 2012. Whatever you’re doing tonight, be safe and take care. Get a cab or have a designated driver.The alternative is so much worse. Now, back to my Ketel One and my New Year’s Eve. Goodnight everyone and we’ll see you in 2012.
One last note: If you ever get a chance to watch an away feed and actually listen to the crap that spews from the mouths of the broadcasters, you’ll see how truly spoiled we are by the wonderful work of the Fox Sports West team of Bob Miller and Jim Fox. On Tuesday, these guys will do it all over again as the Kings welcome in the Colorado Avalanche. Until then, what was your favorite or least favorite moment from tonight’s game? Leave your comments/complaints below. Ready… GO!