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The Other Lockout: No Hockey For Now

27 Sep

As we rejoice the end of the refs lockout in the NFL we are reminded that the NHL is still coping with it’s own lockout drama. There is not going to be a preseason in hockey this year. Last week the NHL had cancelled the opening week of preseason games but since no resolution has been found they have cancelled all the exhibition games. Unlike the NFL which had a dispute over refs the NHL is dealing with a dispute with players over revenue. They are set to resume talks on Friday. The players want a bigger chunk of the more than 3 billion in profit that the NHL brings in annually.

The NFL was lucky that the refs lockout only resulted in angry fans and not a loss in revenue. It looks like the NHL will not be that lucky and stands to loose a lot of viewership/money if they don’t resolve the lockout in time for the regular season. Not to mention the countless stadiums that will be loosing money without games happening. Already some stadium owners have laid off employees anticipating a long dispute.

-M

NHL Lockout: Another Lost Season?

19 Sep

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I admit that I am not a huge hockey fan. I enjoy going to the games and was excited for the LA Kings this season but aside from that I could care less. This probably because I am from a Southern state that up until I was in high school didn’t have a pro hockey team, we now have the Carolina Hurricanes(you may remember that they won the Stanley Cup a few years back). And despite hockey’s Southern expansion people in South are fair weather fans at best. Regardless I recognize that there are many avid hockey fans in the US that might be affected by the current lockout.

If you haven’t been following the news the players and owners are in a debate over revenue. Before the lockout, which started Saturday night, the players were making 57% of hockey-revenue and owners want that number to go down. The owners also want to have contracts with players that are less than 6 years in length. The last lockout occurred seven years ago during the 2004-05 season which is now known as the lost season. Lockouts are never good for leagues who have not only players but arena employees depending on games for jobs. The lockout has already sent players like Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeni Malkin to sign deals with Russian leagues.

Personally I think that hockey is a brutal sport and the players should fight for as much as they can. With that said there isn’t room in the Russian leagues for everyone so players will definitely lose money the longer they hold out. Judging from the past lockout which results in a whole season passing without anyone hitting the ice, I wouldn’t bet on this matter being resolved anytime soon.

-M

 

 

That’s How I Like My Milk

14 Jun

Dustin Brown was the first of the Los Angeles Kings to get his alone time with the Stanley Cup. As you can imagine it is quite the honor to have the trophy or King size drinking cup in your home. You can have your friends over, pose for pictures with it or as Brown’s children did drink chocolate milk out of it. Usually people choose to drink champagne out of the Cup but the Brown family prefers milk.

I think this is adorable but as minor germ freak, it scares me a little drink anything out of an incredibly old cup. I mean how exactly is cup the cleaned, it’s not like it fits in a dishwasher?

-M

Kings Win Stanley Cup

12 Jun

The Los Angeles Kings made franchise history Monday night by winning their first ever Stanley Cup. After losing two straight game to the New Jersey Devils, the Kings came back with a 6-1 victory. This is the first time in 45 years of existing that the Kings have won the Stanley Cup. The Kings made it to the Playoffs twice before but never got a Stanley Cup.

Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick was back in action last night with 17 saves. As expected Quick was award Playoff MVP. Dustin Brown had a goal and two assists. Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis both had two goals for the Kings. It was such an amazing performance for the Kings, it makes you wonder what happened in the last two games?

I can also report that I went downtown in Los Angeles for the celebration, which last only till 10:30pm. There were more police than regular people, I guess they were expected a violent Laker win celebration. The lack of partying proves my point that LA is not a real hockey town. If you really loved the Kings you would be partying all night long and showing up for work the next day still drunk. That’s how they do it in Canada.

-M

Still Going: Kings/Devils Game 6

11 Jun

I love this clip. This shows how in touch Los Angeles is with hockey. This reporter stated that the Kings are in their first Stanley Cup Finals but actually they have been in the Finals before in the 199-1993 season. Can I just say, it’s called Wikipedia use it.

Since I have been royal jinxing the Los Angeles Kings from winning the Stanley Cup every time I write that it will happen, I am trying a new approach today. Instead of thinking that Game 6 today could be the last game, I am going to predict an insane comeback from the New Jersey Devils. I am confident once I do this the Kings will actually win. It is great to have a hockey game on today with no NBA Playoffs games scheduled at the same time.

The Kings will take on the Devils at the Staple Center for Game 6 at 8:00pm EST on NBC.

-M

Devils Win Again . . . (Sigh)

10 Jun

I think it’s official that I am jinxing the Los Angeles Kings from winning the Stanley Cup. The Kings need only one more win to secure the Stanley Cup. And it looked like they were going to get it easily. That was until the New Jersey Devils woke up from whatever hockey coma they had been in and started to win games. The Devils won Game 5 last night against the Kings, making the series 3-2.

The Devils won, 2-1, Saturday night. This is the first time the Kings have lost consecutive games in the Playoffs. And I think it has everyone questioning, what’s going on? King’s goalie Jonathan Quick seemed like a brick wall when it came to scoring but now is definitely showing his cracks. Quick helped the Devils score one of their points. As Quick was trying to play the puck away from the net, Devils’ Zach Parise came and stuffed it in. Hockey is so hard to describe just watch it:

Now the question is can the Kings get the momentum back their way? Are they too beat up to bring this series home? We will find out soon.

-M

Kings Stanley Cup Tonight?

9 Jun

I already predicted that the Los Angeles Kings would sweep the New Jersey Devils in Game 4. And obviously I was wrong. At least I wasn’t the dumb enough to invest in $60 parking and a very expensive ticket to that game. But tonight is definitely going to be the night. Unless the Devils do something amazing again . . . In honor and hopes that the Kings will lock this down. I am posting this video. Which really expresses how far Kings fans have come this season.

Kings verse Devils 8:00pm EST. Saturday.

-M

Devils Win WTF?

6 Jun

I think I made a pretty clear argument for why the Los Angeles Kings would be taking home the Stanley Cup Wednesday night. I mean it seemed like it had been gift wrapped for them after winning the first 3 games. I am not hating on the New Jersey Devils for winning, I am just surprised that they waited this long. I am also surprised that they scored so much. It was like they saved up all of their scoring for tonight. The Devils beat the Kings, 3-1.

Adam Henrique scored the tie breaking goal with 4:29 to play. Scoring for the Devils was also Patrik Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk in the third-period goals. I wonder what was up with Kings goalie Jonathan Quick who seemed like he was unstoppable until tonight.

There is still no doubt in my mind that the Kings will take home the Stanley Cup. They will just have to do it from New Jersey.

-M

 

Will Ferrell Tries to Get Kings’ Fans Excited

6 Jun

Just proof that the Los Angeles Kings’ fan base is a bunch of bandwagoners. Here is Will Ferrell as he tries to motivate them. Maybe it will help people get pumped for tonight’s win.

-M

Kings Getting Stanley Cup Today

6 Jun

I know the media likes to hype these things up but let’s face facts the Los Angeles Kings will be winning the Stanley Cup tonight. I believe it would take God himself to be playing hockey with the New Jersey Devils in order for them to win. It will be the first Stanley Cup for the King’s franchise. Here are the reasons why:

1. The Kings have won 15 of 17 matches in the post season.

2. The Kings’ goalie, Jonathan Quick, is incredible. He has allowed only 24 goalies in 17 games, which averages out to 1.36 goals per game. He has the best post season save percentage, .950, of any goalie since 1968. Quick has stopped the puck 97.2 percent of the time against the Devils. So basically nothing gets by this guy.

3. The Devils are really bad a scoring. They have had 12 power-play opportunities in this series and come up empty on all of them. (A power-play is when they outnumber the other team because players are in the penalty box).

So now Los Angeles bandwagoner can go out and celebrate this amazing victory. I can tell you being from North Carolina and experiencing the Hurricanes rise to the Stanley Cup, it is a brief affair. Come next year everyone in LA will have even forgotten hockey exist. So enjoy it for this brief second.

Game 4 is Wednesday at 8:00pm EST.

-M

 

 

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