Number 10 – 2014 Western Conference Semi-final – “The Freeway Series” – Los Angeles Kings vs Anaheim Ducks
It still feels like yesterday that the long anticipated freeway series showdown between interstate 5 rivals, the Kings and the Ducks finally happened as they finally faced off against each other with high stakes on the line and boy it did not disappoint! (unless you’re a Ducks fan of course). Whether you’re a fan of the winning side or the losing side, we all can agree this series was truly epic! The Ducks looked in control early in game 1 only to have Marian Gaborik fly out of nowhere and snatch the victory away from their grip by tying the game with 7 seconds left and then he and Anze Kopitar teamed up to score the winner in overtime. The Kings took a 2-0 lead in the series but lost the next 3 games to the Ducks including a 2-0 shutout loss to rookie goaltender John Gibson. The Kings came back to tie the series at 3 and then invaded the Honda (Ponda) Center in Anaheim to win game 7 and the series which gave every Kings’ fan bragging rights to say to any Duck’s fan that we beat them in our first ever playoff meeting. The victory sent the Kings into the Western Conference Final for the third straight season which became a franchise record. This also turned out to be future Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne‘s (and as we found out later, Saku Koivu‘s) last ever game and the Kings showed a touch of class by staying on the ice and tapping their sticks in tribute to the legend. Epic! I’m sure we all won’t have to wait as long for these two teams to battle each other again in the playoffs and like this first encounter, it was also be epic!
Very well written and uplifting to read . Thank you Jeff !
Jeff Duarte
May 25, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Thank you Naima!
ginadblasck
December 15, 2015 at 7:08 pm
“One of the reasons I love London so much is that it is full of secret nooks and crannies”
lenadanderson
December 21, 2015 at 10:35 am
Great work Lori! I love the rundown and agree. I’m not sure who is available for free agency on defense, but that’s definitely an area that should be addressed with the retirement of Regehr and possible split from Voynov with his legal issues. I liked what I saw from McNabb, and I have always loved McBain since his days in Carolina. However, I think parting with McBain for another key defensive piece via trade or whatever may be a good idea.
About Jeff Duarte
Born and raised in southern Ontario, Jeff has been enamored with the sport of hockey for as long as he can remember. A musician, a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a former amateur boxer, Jeff has many interests but none more important than spending time with his beautiful wife and writing about the enigma, heartbreak and triumph of his beloved Los Angeles Kings.
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Naima Vons
May 25, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Very well written and uplifting to read . Thank you Jeff !
Jeff Duarte
May 25, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Thank you Naima!
ginadblasck
December 15, 2015 at 7:08 pm
“One of the reasons I love London so much is that it is full of secret nooks and crannies”
lenadanderson
December 21, 2015 at 10:35 am
Great work Lori! I love the rundown and agree. I’m not sure who is available for free agency on defense, but that’s definitely an area that should be addressed with the retirement of Regehr and possible split from Voynov with his legal issues. I liked what I saw from McNabb, and I have always loved McBain since his days in Carolina. However, I think parting with McBain for another key defensive piece via trade or whatever may be a good idea.