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“The Regular Season Doesn’t Matter”
The Kings come across as the most bipolar championship winning team that I now I have ever witnessed. As soon as you think they are done, or have nothing left they come back in surprising fashion to
overcome the odds and logic to pull out a victory. As soon as it looks like they forgot how to compete or even how to complete a pass, with pure grit and stubborn determination, these Kings fight to the bitter end and get the job done. To be honest, this is exactly the type of team most sports fans would love and fight to have, though I do admit it is not for the faint of heart.
“Oh I wish my team could do what the Kings have done,” said my life long Montreal Canadiens loving brother-in-law. “Who cares about the regular season anyway, it’s all about the playoffs and winning the Cup!”
Very true I agreed but here’s the problem. How long before the inconsistencies of the Kings performance in the regular season balances out and starts to bite them from behind? One would assume that playing with fire like that would eventually catch up with them, right?. How many times can this Los Angeles Kings team continue to lose points to the teams that are behind them in the standings? (like they just did against the Buffalo Sabres). As a result the Los Angeles Kings are currently out of a playoff spot. Why can’t they even secure home ice advantage? (which ironically they did in the 2013 playoffs, but they didn’t win the Cup that year) As of today, The Kings road record (The Kings, sometimes were called the Roadwarriors for their frightening success away from home) is a dismal 3-5 and 4. Like the regular seasons of 2011-12 and 2013-14 (aka The Cup years), plus a decrease in puck possession analytics, none of these stats are encouraging.
I’ve always heard the old cliché that some teams are just made for the playoffs. I always thought that saying was odd because shouldn’t the goal of every team be to make the playoffs and attempt to win the Cup? As a long time (and suffering) Los Angeles Kings fan, I have been taught, trained and brainwashed with the idea that Murphy’s law will always apply to this team. Getting swept by the Calgary Flames after the King’s eliminated the Cup Champion (and former team of the Great One Wayne Gretzky) Edmonton Oilers in 7 games in ’89? Marty McSorley’s illegal stick in game 2 of the 1993 Stanley Cup finals? (Yeah that one still stings). 2 straight years of losing game 7 to the (admiringly more powerful) Colorado Avalanche in 2001 and 2002? I’m not even mentioning the many, MANY years the Kings would not even make the playoffs to begin with.
But should this era (which I’m sure will be looked back on as the Golden Years) be thought of as different? Do the old ways of thinking no longer apply to today’s Los Angeles Kings? The answer is yes. As coach Daryl Sutter has said on many post game conferences, “The past don’t matter” and the regular season is only for “Making the playoffs.”
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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!