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Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down : LA Kings Edition 10/13/17

Alright, Kings’ fans, the NHL season has officially started and our Los Angeles Kings’ have completed 3 games so far and have a 2-0-1 record with 5 points. That’s not too shabby at all or is it??? Let’s look at who gets a Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down in the Kingdom of our beloved LA Kings!

Thumbs Up to the Alex Iaffalo, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown Line

Now, who’da thunk it??? It’s not rare for the Kings’ to have “Kopi” and “Brownie” together on the same line, (you know like back in the 2012, 2013 & 2014 playoffs!) What has become rare is the magic and chemistry that they used to have an abundance of when playing together, many thought forever lost in the abyss that are the years 2015 to 2017. But alas, it seems the magic and chemistry has returned with a vengeance and there are many reasons and theories why, but that is a discussion for another day! What we can discuss is how Captain Kopitar and (will always be considered also as Captain) Brown are out there and causing some much-needed damage (in a good way!) and having rookie Alex Iaffalo as the third and final piece in that puzzle, has so far been brilliant!

(Flames’ Captain Mark Giordano asks Captain ‘Kopi’ how many Stanley Cup rings he has? – Photo credit to Augie Loya)

As it stands right now, both Brown and Kopitar are leading the Kings in points. Actually, they are identical in points. They both have 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points and are a Plus-6. In their last game against Calgary, after being down 2-0 after the first period, they went to work and came back strong by scoring 3 goals to take the lead and take control of this game, (which they lost when the Flames tied it 3-3 and then lost in overtime but at least we got a point right? POSITIVITY!!!) Kopitar scored first with a laser of a wrist-shot, which was assisted by Brown. Brown then scored the next two goals, (yes, the next TWO goals! Like is this the old school Dustin Brown or a replicant of him? And yes I said replicant because of the new Blade Runner film, so what?), with expert tip-in deflections, (think Brown’s second overtime winning goal in game 2 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final against New York!), Kopitar assisted on the second one, but Iafallo (along with Drew Doughty), assisted on the first one.

(Hey! Who is that masked man wearing number 23 and scoring all of those goals?!?!?! SIGN HIM UP! – photo created by David J. Villa)

This line has been red hot, and after a poor season, (or a couple of poor seasons in regards to “Brownie”), both Kopitar and Brown seem to have been rejuvenated in this reunion and hopefully they will continue to do so, so here’s a definite THUMPS UP to the Kings’ top line, (are we allowed to call it the top or first line again now that Darryl Sutter is gone??? Um, I’m asking for a friend).

Now speaking of Alex Iaffalo…

THUMBS UP TO ALEX IAFFALO FOR HIS PLAY, EARNING A TOP LINE ROSTER POSITION AND GETTING HIS FIRST EVER NHL POINT!

(Photo credit to Augie Loya)

“WHO IS THIS KID?”, I asked my television screen as I watched this rookie work his ass off, hustle and battle to earn not only a roster spot on the LA Kings for opening day but a roster spot on the top line with Kopitar and Brown, a spot most predicted, including myself, that free agent signing, (and former LA King) Mike Cammalleri would be assigned. Well, Jeff, he is a 23-year-old, 6 foot, left shooting forward that had played at the NCAA level with the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the last 5 or so years. And he pretty much took a roster spot away from the Ontario Reign’s Michael Mersch and others. So yeah, WOW!

Now, of course, we are only 3 games into this season, but to see this kid want this gig so badly enough, he was a beast in the pre-season and earned his way to the main team. And, as much as I loved and still love Coach Sutter, there is no way Iafallo would have made this team with Sutter still in charge. So it is refreshing that coach John Stevens is allowing the Kings’ prospects to compete and work hard for their opportunities. And then reward them for it!

Against Calgary, Iafallo achieved his first ever career NHL point when he got the secondary assist on Dustin Brown’s first goal (read above) of that game. The first of many I’m sure. Now, will Iafallo remain on the top line or with the Kings all season? Who knows? But for now, the kid is playing great and has fit right in perfectly with the two veterans. And for that, he gets a THUMBS UP!

THUMBS DOWN TO KYLE CLIFFORD’S INJURY

(Photo credit to Augie Loya)

We all know injuries suck, especially to players that are playing well, which is what Kyle Clifford, Trevor Lewis, and Nick Shore were doing as the Kings’ energetic and kamakazi like fourth line. For the first time since the 2014 playoffs, the Kings’ finally found three players who could raise hell, get in the faces of opposing players, help shift momentum and create offensive chances together on a bottom 6 line. Like the most bottom, bottom 6 line.

Now I don’t know the extent of Kyle Clifford’s arm/shoulder injury suffered from the Calgary game, but the way he left the ice it did NOT look good. Also, there was this…

With the Kings’ third line still trying to find it’s identity, the other three lines have been kicking some serious ass, (though I will admit that “That 70’s Line” of Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson, need to find ways of getting that puck in the net more sooner than later), and now with “Cliffy” possibly injured, that may mess up the chemistry of the red-hot fourth line. Whoever the Kings’ choose to replace him, (if Clifford is out for any length of time of course), whether it’s Jonny Brodzinski, Nic Dowd or someone called up from Ontario, (Mersch???), they will have to rekindle and continue with what that line has been able to accomplish so far. And that won’t be easy.

So I’m obviously not giving “Cliffy” the thumbs down here, as it’s not his fault for getting hurt. I am certain that he would prefer to be playing on that ice and helping the Kings win. But the THUMBS DOWN will simply go to INJURIES, and ALL THEY REPRESENT! Damn you injuries, you’re an ass.

MVP FOR THE WEEK – John Stevens

I had a hard time choosing this, as there were too many candidates, but I decided upon awarding this (prestigious?) award to LA’s head coach John Stevens. He has got the static Kings to play more openly, offensively and ruthlessly and so far it has been exciting to see. Plus, it’s without sacrificing the bread and butter of this Kings’ team, which is defense. And like all things, nothing is perfect, especially only after a pre-season and 3 regular season games (like the one against Calgary), but in that pre-season and in these 3 regular season games, Stevens’ fingermarks have made some serious progress on these players and it shows. So yeah, so far so good, well except when he had Nick Shore out there in overtime against the Flames. I’ll let that one pass … for now.

<WARNING, THIS NEXT PART IS ABOUT THE VEGAS SHOOTINGS>

(Chrissy Duarte)

Normally, this part of the article is about the “Feel Good Moment of the Week,” but no tragedy feels good, and nor should it. Whether it’s from losing loved ones randomly to gun violence, natural disasters, out of control fires or accidents, the loss of a loved one to any of these examples, is scarring and haunting to those left behind. Like most, I was horrified by what happened in Las Vegas, and the deaths of 58 innocent concert goers, with hundreds more injured. My cousin Jennifer Duarte, who with her sister, my cousin Sue, were the sisters that I never had, so much so that we never called each other cousins. I was their brother and they were my sisters. And everyone knew us as that. Jenny was murdered from gun violence in Pawtucket, RI back in 2006. She was 24 and had a 5-year-old son. Trust me, nothing feels good or is ever the same after experiencing something as horrific as that happening to someone you love. Nothing can make you feel better after that, especially by a sporting event, or a sport’s organization. What does help is having a support system. Having support from people who care. I had my sister Sue, my wife Theresa and my family and friends. We had each other and made sure that Jenny is and always will be remembered. When the Vegas shootings happened, I received many texts and DM’s from concerned Kings’ fans wondering if I was related to a Christiana Duarte, an LA King’s employee who was missing, and then found deceased, a victim of the shootings? I was not. I have never met Chrissy in person, I didn’t know Chrissy at all, but after learning more about her, it was starting to feel like I did. Though we share the same last name, we weren’t related by blood, but we were still family. We were Kings’ family.

And like myself, the LA Kings’ and the Kings’ family do indeed care, we care a lot. So much so that over $100,000 was raised in the #GoFundMe that helped Chrissy’s parents out financially for her memorial. Plus the money that was raised by the Kings’ organization AND player’s AND fan base for her and the other victims and those affected by this senseless massacre. This wasn’t about a game any more of sticks, ice, and a rubber puck. This was real life and extremely painful, and we all cared and wanted to help. So as best as we all could, we did.

 

(photo courtesy of LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen)

And the Anaheim Ducks’ organization also cared…

… as did the San Jose Sharks’ organization…

… as did the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Arizona Coyotes, as seen at the Knights’ home opener. Let alone, all the first and beyond responders, both uniformed and concert-goers that risked their lives to save, or attempt to save others in a time of madness and death, and of course, the people of Las Vegas that stood in line for 6 hours or so, just so they could donate blood to help out.

Like with my sister Jenny, nothing can bring Chrissy or any of these victims back. Nothing can erase the horrible tragedy that happened. But it is good to know that friends and family will be there to support you, and you for them. Even in the sports world, wherein the end, despite being mortal enemies on the ice, or as rival fan bases, when real tragedy strikes we all have each other’s backs and are there to support each other and those in need. At least that ….. is something.

*This article is dedicated to Jennifer Duarte, Christiana “Chrissy” Duarte and to all of the victims and families that have been affected by senseless gun violence, whether it be in Las Vegas, Orlando, San Bernardino, at UCLA, Aurora, CO, Columbine, CO, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, Lawrence, KS, Pawtucket, RI, Chicago, IL, Quebec City, Ottawa, Manchester, England, Paris, France or anywhere else in the world.

**Special thanks to Augie Loya and David J. Villa for their contributions to this article.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Kings and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, All the time

 

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