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“What’s Wrong With The Kings?”
That’s a question most Los Angeles Kings fans have been asking since the 2011-12 regular season. A regular season where the King’s struggled to score on a consistent basis and just hung on to a playoff spot (8th seed) on the last day of the season. A season where there was a serious goal scoring drought and it seemed that all of the King’s players were experiencing career lows in points production. The only exception being star goaltender Jonathan Quick, who didn’t suffer any career lows but did quite the opposite by keeping the team competitive (and alive) by carrying the team on his back. There seemed to be no chance that these Los Angeles Kings had any hope to pass the first round of the playoffs (against the Stanley Cup finalists and President’s trophy winning Vancouver Canucks no less) let alone go all the way and win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. The only thing is the Kings defied all odds and did exactly that. They went on, not only to win the Stanley Cup, but to do it in a dominant fashion, becoming the first team in NHL history to win the Cup as an 8th seeded team, finishing with a record of 16-4. Another impressive fact is they were also the first team in NHL history to defeat the first, second and third seeded teams (plus the winner of the Eastern Conference) to go on to win the Stanley Cup. I believe it’s safe to say that none of us saw that coming.
When analyzing the differences between that season’s regular season version of the Kings and the playoff version of the Kings, one would think that they were actually two separate entities from two separate seasons or even from two separate dimensions. One, slow with almost no passion and frustrating to follow, the other hungry, mean and an over abundance of passion! In reality they are one and the same. A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde team of sorts.
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Xminor79 .
December 11, 2014 at 3:06 pm
Great article. Very interesting
Jeff Duarte
December 11, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Thank you for taking the time to read it! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Hip Check Chick
December 11, 2014 at 4:18 pm
Congrats Jeff on a terrific first article and here’s to many many more! Looking forward to them. 😀
Jeff Duarte
December 11, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Thank you so much!
SandmanBS
December 11, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Great stuff Jeff! Was fun reliving the highs and lows of Kings hockey through your words. I can’t think of many people better equipped to talk puck than you my friend. Hoping this is only the start of your journey on here. Keep em’ coming and as always Go Kings Go!
Jeff Duarte
December 11, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Thanks Bobby! I really appreciate it!
Richard Resendes
December 11, 2014 at 7:09 pm
Great article. Glad to see you use your great gift on a topic you deeply care about. Looking forward to your next one.
Jeff Duarte
December 12, 2014 at 2:39 am
Thanks Rich. I appreciate the kind words.
OC Kings Fan
December 11, 2014 at 8:01 pm
So awesome that you’re a Canadian in love with The Kings
Jeff Duarte
December 12, 2014 at 2:35 am
Thank you! I like to think as myself as a member of #LAKingsFamilyInternational!
chitchattj
December 11, 2014 at 10:29 pm
Great read… Thank you for giving new fans an idea what it’s like on the sad years. Now tonight they play like a championship team again. Go Kings!
Jeff Duarte
December 12, 2014 at 2:38 am
Thank you Teej! I really appreciate you taking the time to read this.
Sushant
December 12, 2014 at 3:54 am
Congratulations Jeff on this amazing article 🙂 couldn’t wait to read your coming articles
Jeff Duarte
December 12, 2014 at 8:18 pm
Thank you Sushant!
J Brown
December 12, 2014 at 5:40 am
Your passion and understanding of Kings Hockey shines through in this well written article. No easy feat! Stick tap to you TAP TAP TAP
Jeff Duarte
December 12, 2014 at 8:18 pm
I am honored by your words and the stick taps, thank you!
Stacy
December 12, 2014 at 8:04 am
Jeff…awesome article…congratulations
Jeff Duarte
December 12, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Thank you Stacy.
max
December 12, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Awesome Jeff! Looking forward to many, many more! Congratulations!
Jeff Duarte
December 12, 2014 at 8:21 pm
Thank you Max!
corey
December 16, 2014 at 2:59 pm
What a Great article Jeff! looking forward to more.
Jeff Duarte
December 17, 2014 at 1:17 am
Thanks Corey!