Oscar Talk With Former LA King Dustin Penner

Just mentioning the name of former Los Angeles Kings player and 2 time Stanley Cup Champion Dustin Penner can bring differing opinions and varying emotions from many hockey fans, especially those that follow the NHL teams that he has played for. (The Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers and the Washington Capitals.) Some fans are very positive and fond of him while others … not so positive.  To me though, when I hear the name Dustin Penner, three immediate thoughts come to mind instantly. I will explain them from a backwards order for no other reason than simply for more dramatic effect.

Number 3 – It was his goal in overtime against the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes in the 2012 Western Conference final that put our beloved Los Angeles Kings back into the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1993. I can still see Jeff Carter rushing towards the net to deliver a wrist shot, Phoenix goalie Mike Smith making the save but giving up a juicy rebound with a jumping puck that shot right by Mike Richards and 2 Phoenix defensemen and right onto Penner’s stick!  I can still hear Hockey Night in Canada’s legendary commentator Bob Cole (and myself while jumping off the couch) scream out Penner’s name just as he took that puck and put it right into the back of the net for the victory!  I still vividly see Penner sliding on the ice on one knee and throwing 3 quick jabs into the air with mean intentions.  Then when he reaches the boards, he turns around, drops his gloves and “ROARS!” while the entire LA Kings team jumps on top of him in a wild and well-earned celebration.

Dustin was having a hard year back then in 2011-12, both on the ice, health wise and in his personal life but with one very important overtime goal, he was reborn into “Playoff” Penner, a LA Kings hero! He got our Kings team back into the promised land and he is still adored by many in the Kingdom to this day.

Number 2 – His series ending goal against the St. Louis Blues during game 6 of the first round of the 2013 playoffs.  “Playoff Penner” was a powerful sight to behold and when partnered with his fellow “Redemption Line” teammates of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, they were almost unstoppable.  In this series, St. Louis took a 2-0 lead but the comeback (cardiac) Kings did their thing and won 3 straight take the lead 3-2.  Game 6 was in LA at the Staples Center and turned out to be a tight defensive and heavy hitting game.  With the score tied 1-1 and with seconds to go in the second period, Penner regained the puck, skated into St. Louis’ zone and from the red line, he let out the mother of all slap shots and blasted the puck past unsuspecting goalie Brian Elliott and into the net with less 2 tenths of a second left on the clock! Brilliant! The Blues were never the same after that and the score held, giving Dustin Penner another series winner goal for the second straight year!

May I also remind everyone that before that strike imposed half season of 2013 started, Penner purposely took a pay cut on his new 1 year contract with the Kings solely so he could stay with the team and help them defend the Cup.  Very admirable.

Number 1 – This first one isn’t hockey related but is a very personal one to me.  Dustin is good friends with my cousin Susan Duarte, who is like a sister to me.  Sue’s mom (my aunt Maria) died suddenly and unexpectedly in March of 2013.  Sue was on vacation in Italy when her aunt discovered my Aunt’s lifeless body in her home apartment.  Crushed when she found out, Sue contacted me immediately and told me what happened. She needed my help and asked me to get to Providence, RI (which is where she and that part of my family live) and she would meet me there as soon as she could by taking the first flight home.  with my cousin Eddie, We drove down to Providence and waited for Sue’s arrival.  She arrived from Italy hurt, confused and mourning. I did all I could to help her with everything including to try to make her smile but I needed reinforcements.

A day before my aunt’s funeral, I decided to contact Dustin and let him know that Sue’s mom had just passed away.  As soon as I said that, Dustin told me he was going to call her immediately and he did.  Dustin’s call caught Sue by surprise and though it didn’t (or could) change the sad circumstances, it did make her smile and feel a bit better as it did to me as well.  This is why I will always have respect for Dustin Penner.  He was there for a friend, who is a family member of mine, who I love and treat as my own sister.  For this, I will forever owe him … but those huge goals for the Kings were quite epic though!

And now I will owe him some more as Penner has agreed to let me interview him for CaliSportsNews.com (or CSN as we love to call it) but if you know anything about “Penns,” You’ll know that he has a very witty and charming personality (which is why I call him the World Social Media Champion of the World!) and this interview will not be about hockey, or about his time with the Los Angeles Kings (that can come later down the road) but since the Academy Awards (or Oscars) are being presented today at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, I decided to pick Dustin’s brain on who he thinks should win this year’s Oscars awards? Why? Because why not?  It’s Dustin Penner for crying out loud!

So as Academy Award winner Heath Ledger said as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” (2008),

“And here…we…go!”