LA Kings History: Twelve days of Christmas, number 12

As part of the twelve days of Christmas, the LA Kings have a rich history pertaining to each number. Up first is number twelve.

When it comes to the number twelve, the most memorable moment in LA Kings‘ history relating to that number has to be the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals. The Kings became the first number eight seed in NHL history to hoist the Stanley Cup trophy. Further, LA was the first team ever to take a 3-0 lead in all four series of the playoffs.

In the opening round against the Vancouver Canucks, the Kings tallied 12 goals in the five-game series, with Dustin Brown tallying four goals and an assist to send LA to the Western Conference Semifinals.

Marian Gaborik, number 12

Perhaps the best trade in the Dean Lombardi era, Marian Gaborik donned the number 12 on his sweater and made an immediate impact after coming over from the Blue Jackets in March 2014. Gaborik recorded a league-best 14 goals in the Kings’ second Stanley Cup title in three seasons.

Kings score 12 goals in a game

April 10, 1990, the LA Kings scored three hat tricks to a 12-4 win over the Calgary Flames. Dave Taylor, Tomas Sandstrom, and Tony Granato all scored three goals while Wayne Gretzky chipped in a goal to go along with four assists. At the time, the Flames were the defending Stanley Cup Champions. The Kings’ 12 goals not only were the most the team had ever scored, but it was also the most the Flames had ever given up in a playoff game.

Bob Miller, born October 12

Former voice of the LA Kings, Bob Miller was born on October 12, 1938. Miller’s first season as the play-by-play broadcaster came in the 1973 season until his retirement after the 2017 season. Of course, Miller called both Stanley Cup clinchers with these two memorable calls in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

"“This is for you, Kings fans, wherever you may be. All the frustration and disappointment of the past is gone. The 45-year drought is over! The Los Angeles Kings are indeed the kings of the National Hockey League. They are the 2012 Stanley Cup champions! The countdown is on–3, 2, 1, it’s over!” – Bob Miller/2012"

"“Here on the left side, Martinez over to Clifford. Right side, shot from there. The save, the rebound, SCORE! Kings win the Cup! The Kings, Martinez getting the rebound. The Kings have won the Stanley Cup! The Kings, in the longest game in their history, win it, 3-2!” – Bob Miller/2014"

Luc Robitaille, formerly 12th all-time in goals scored

Up until last season, Luc Robitaille was 12th all-time on the NHL’s goals scored list. Alex Ovechkin‘s 48 goals in the COVID-19 shortened season propelled him all the way up to eighth all-time, pushing the former down to 13th all-time in the process. Robitaille was a ninth-round pick of the LA Kings in 1984, scoring a franchise-leading 557 goals. As a 20-year-old, Robitaille tallied 45 goals with 39 assists, winning the NHL’s Calder Trophy Award for the league’s best rookie.

Through the 1993-1994 campaign, he remained with the team, making stops in Pittsburgh and New York (Rangers) and returning to LA before the 1997-1998 season. Robitaille won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2001-2002 season. He spent two seasons in Detroit before coming back to the Kings for his final two years. Robitaille was inducted into the NHL’s Hall of Fame in 2009.