Farewell Frozen Fury

Las Vegas fans will not be disappointed with their team’s new stadium, owned by Kings owner AEG. It features a large plaza out front for events, including the fan fest hosted for King fans this weekend, including street hockey, face painting, and a Q & A with Las Vegas Expansion team owner Bill Foley and general manager George McPhee. Once inside, however, is where the real fun begins. With 17,500 seats available each hockey game, the stadium comes equipped with state of the art entertainment. The real highlight of the weekend (since the Kings couldn’t seem to get their act together enough to actually win a game) was the pregame show.

Now that was a good time.

As for the actual games, that was less of a good time. The first was a total blowout, 6-3 Dallas. With Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Jonathan Quick, and Jeff Carter still sitting on the sidelines, it wasn’t going to be an epic game, but it was hardly the performance one would want to see from many players still vying desperately for a spot on the Kings opening night roster. Michael Mersch made a strong case and made himself a trivia question answer by being the first person to ever score a goal in the new stadium, a power play goal that would pretty much be the highlight of the evening. The Kings killed a penalty by drawing a penalty, but later Jake Muzzin (who was having a very off night) ruined a power play by taking a penalty and within a few seconds the Stars scored on it.

The first ended in a tie and the second went downhill fast. How one Star managed to even get a shot off on his own when he was surrounded by five Kings I don’t know, but it wasn’t pretty. The Kings tied it again with a zinger from Gilbert (whom I haven’t forgiven for taking Justin Williams number) tipped in by Dustin Brown, and that was the end of the good times. Two Dallas goals within quick succession and a penalty kill dampened many spirits (and made me question the choice to send Budaj back to the AHL instead of Jeff Zatkoff.) Dallas ended up scoring 3 times on 8 shots. Nic Dowd brought some hope in the third (continuing to prove how he earned his roster spot) bringing the Kings back to within one, but with 5 minutes remaining Zatkoff let in his fifth of the evening, and an empty net goal (which they technically scored shorthanded) would seal the deal. Tyler Toffoli was at least entertaining; he’s going to do well for the Kings this season.

Saturday night against the Avalanche didn’t end in a win but had much more positives to come from it. For one thing, it was the first time Kopitar wore his C, and Doughty and Carter wore their A’s. The beginning of a new era appropriately timed for the Kings 50th Anniversary. Carter and Toffoli continued to make magic; a stretch pass from Carter almost lead to a shorthanded cupcake goal. A pass from Doughty did lead to Carter scoring the Kings first (and only) goal, a lead they would manage to keep until 1:14 before the end of the third period. With 2:10 remaining the Avalanche pulled Semyon Varlomov (a change from the Patrick Roy era of pulling his goalie 5 minutes or so early) and it paid off. The Kings went into OT that ended 30 seconds later when their Captain Gabriel Landeskog got one past Quick. Still; our puck possession was solid, our chances were good, and our top players were on their game.

The roster for opening night is set. Michael Mersch and Adrian Kempe, prospects many expected would make the transition up from the AHL, were sent back down in favor of Devin Setoguchi, a comeback story with the Kings on a professional tryout that ended in a two way contract. Rob Scuderi who of course helped the Kings to their first Stanley Cup in 2012, was also placed on waivers and sent down to Ontario, in favor of Gilbert and Forbert making up the Kings 7 defensemen. Kopitar, Brown, Carter, Toffoli, Dowd, King, Clifford, Lewis, Andreoff, Nolan, Pearson (who will miss opening night and the home opener finishing out his suspension), Shore, Setoguchi and Purcell round out the forwards, who will take on the Sharks at 7:30pm at the SAP Center tonight. Go Kings Go!