Top 10 LA Kings Playoff Series – Part One

9  –  2001 Western Conference Quarterfinal – “Frenzy on Figueroa” – Los Angeles Kings vs Detroit Red Wings

In 2001, The LA Kings made the playoffs for the third time in 4 years after a 4 year playoff drought.  The first 2 playoff experiences were busts as the Kings were swept in 4 straight by the St. Louis Blues in 1998 and the Detroit Red Wings in 2000 (they missed the playoffs again in 1999).  This was a re-match and most hockey experts predicted a similar fate and elimination for the Kings against the mighty and Cup experienced Red Wings but the funny thing was nobody told the Kings about that.  The Kings believed in each other and were well-organized by coach Andy Murray and after being down 2-0 early in the series, they came back with a powerful united front to win the next 4 games to upset and get revenge against the Stanley Cup contenders including winning game 6 in overtime with Adam Deadmarsh getting the series winner.  This gave Kings’ fans a reason to celebrate and have hope for the first time in a long time after many years of disappointment and frustration after the Kings made the Stanley Cup Final way back in 1993.  The Kings went on to lose in the next round to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche in 7 games (and lost to the Avalanche in 7 games again the next year) but nothing could dilute the pride and accomplishment the Kings created by being the little engine that could and would defeat a powerful Detroit Red Wings team, forever known as the “Frenzy on Figueroa” (based on the Staples Center residing on Figueroa street).  Now imagine if the Kings had won that game 7 against Colorado in 2001???  They would’ve possibly won the Cup right??? RIGHT???