don't stop believing

When these Stanley Cup playoffs started back in April, I had little hope for anything spectacular to happen for my LA Kings. I love them dearly, but the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks had dominated them -- and most other teams -- this season and, while you always hope for the best, I didn't want to let myself get too invested.

I felt this was an extremely good strategy once the Kings went down 0-3 to the San Jose Sharks in Round 1.

But then something happened. They did what most thought impossible -- and made history in the process -- by becoming only the 4th team in NHL history to come back from 0-3 to win a playoff series. And this became the new battle cry/hashtag of Kings fans:

Then they did something even more unexpected. They beat the Ducks... again in a hard-fought 7-game series.

And with that win, I started to hope... I got invested. The Kings went up 3-1 against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. I couldn't believe it! It seemed too easy. But it didn't stay that way for long. The Kings were one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals ... for 3 games (including a nauseating Game 5 double OT loss). That's how much the Blackhawks refused to go away quietly. They kept fighting. They were winning. And we were once again headed to Game 7. I began to talk myself out of my investment... it would be easier to watch the Kings start golfing if I was mentally prepared in advance.

All day today I was prepared for the worst...  even though the players in tonight's Kings lineup had a combined record of 64-2 in Game 7's. (A factoid of hope :)

I could only half-watch the game today... I busied myself with other things in view of the TV because it was too stressful, too close a game to really pay close attention to. Chicago went up by 2 goals early. The Kings got one goal back. Then "Mr. Game 7," Justin Williams, tied it up. 12 seconds later Chicago scored again. Then the Kings tied it again. Then Chicago went up 4-3. Then, the Kings tied it again, 4-4.

Then there was a 4.2 earthquake in Southern California. I took this as a sign... of what I wasn't sure. But when the game went to sudden death overtime three minutes later, I decided to watch from my kitchen, because that's where I'd been for at least two of the Kings four goals. (Yes, I'm totally superstitious when it comes to the Kings. Anyone who knows me should know this by now.)

While I was in there, pacing about, trying not to care, Mr, Game 7 fed a pass to Alec Martinez, who took a shot from just inside the point. That shot flew over Corey Crawford's shoulder and the game was over. The Kings were taking their second trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in three seasons!



With that shot, the LA Kings became the first team in NHL history to win three Game 7's on the road in order to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

I screamed. I rewound the Tivo to watch it again... closely. I started typing a Facebook status update. My phone started going nuts with texts. My brother, the big game jinx, called from the Chili's in Temecula (where he was watching the game before he joins the San Diego Forestry Service tomorrow) to explain they won because he was able to do Jim Beam rally shots at the bar, and they don't carry Jim Beam at Staples Center, which is why they lose when he's there. (Umm... okaaay.)

Then this happened, and like a good Captain, Brownie did NOT touch the Clarence Campbell Bowl, awarded each year to the Western Conference CHAMPIONS! (That's bad luck for those of you who aren't superstitious. I hope the Rangers touched their trophy.)



The Kings need to win four more games to win hockey's holy grail. So now, we start the insanity all over again on Wednesday at 5pm at Staples Center. Game 1 vs. the mostly hated (at least by everyone I know) New York Rangers. It's the NHL's dream Final: New York vs. Los Angeles. And the Kings finally have home ice advantage. Which means the next Game 7 they win will finally be at home. However, if they'd like to win Games 1 and 2 at home, and then one in New York, and then win that 4th game at home in Game 5, that would be totally acceptable.

They can do it, right? We just have to #believe!

things that make me smile... the summer edition

Things I love about Summer... in no particular order (except for #1... my fave food ever :)

1. Strawberries
2. My rose garden in bloom
3. Lazy Sunday mornings on my back patio with a chai and the LA Times
4. Flip flops
5. Summer Movie Blockbuster Club 
6. Bike rides 
7. John Williams at The Hollywood Bowl
8. The Stanley Cup Finals (especially this year ;)
9. Daylight till ~8pm
10. Peaches
11. 4th of July
12. BBQ's
13. Gardening
14. All-day hikes 
15. True Blood
16. Grilled asparagus
17. Vacation
18. Margaritas 
19. The Olympics
20. Big Brother
21. The farmer's market
22. Concerts at the Greek Theatre
23. Movies in the Cemetary
24. Mojitos
25. Dining al fresco on warm nights

la kings = 2012 stanley cup champions!

I don't really know how to put into words what I'm feeling tonight. I just watched the LA Kings win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their 45-year history, live from Section 206 at Staples Center. I expected to cry at the game when it looked like they'd win. Well, they looked like they'd win in the first period after taking advantage of a 5-minute major penalty and scoring three power play goals. I didn't cry then. I cheered. I didn't cry at the end of the game either. Instead, I started shaking with about 10 minutes left in the game. My hands, my legs... and I'm still not sure my hands have completely stopped shaking. But I didn't cry till I got home and watched my favorite current King, Captain Dustin Brown, lift the Cup, kiss it and hand it off to 35-year-old, first time Champion Willie Mitchell...



Seeing their faces close-up, hearing them speak. So happy! They worked so hard. And they did something truly remarkable. The Kings were a 75-1 long shot to win the Stanley Cup at the beginning of the season. Since then, they fired one coach, and hired another. They struggled to score goals and barely made the playoffs, scraping in as the 8th seed just two games before the end of the regular season. But once they got there, they knocked off the #1, #2 and #3 seeds in the West.

Then they took a 3-0 lead against the Eastern Champions, and one of the best goaltenders -- Martin Broudeur -- to ever play in the NHL. Games 4 and 5, which they lost due to bad luck and stupid mistakes, nearly broke me as a fan. All my doubts -- ingrained over 24 years of disappointment -- about their ability to win came back. I actually thought about selling my tickets tonight -- they were going for $1,200 to $9,999 each on stubhub.com, and I knew I couldn't sit through another three hours of nervous nausea like I'd experienced in Games 4 and 5.

But I also knew if they won tonight and I wasn't there, I'd slit my wrists. So I drove to Staples Center, for the 9th time in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, this time with my Dad because if they were going to win, I wanted a family member there with me to experience it. (My little brother had come with me to Game 4.) I was wearing what I wore last Monday when they won 4-0. I ordered the exact same drink and food. And I sat in the exact same seat -- row 7, seat 8. And tonight, I watched my Kings completely eviscerate that future Hall of Fame goaltender... scoring 6 goals (5 with him in net) before it was all over. They came out hard. These were the Kings of Game 3, not the Kings who let nerves get to them in Games 4 and 5. And because of that, these Kings ARE the 2012 Stanley Cup Champions!


Here are some of the sights of Game 6 -- the game when the Kings were finally crowned Champions!

From the awesome pre-game video:

After goals by Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis during the 5-minute major boarding penalty (Rob Scuderi really took one for the team with that hit. So glad he wasn't seriously injured and came back to play. He's really gonna feel that tomorrow, but something tells me he won't care :)

Jeff Carter scores goal #2 for him and #4 for the rest of us :)

Me and Dad during 2nd intermission... kinda grainy cuz I had to pump up the color levels to make us visible under the super-bright florescent lights.

The final stats

Dustin "Pancakes" Penner (who said he'd mix pancake batter in the bowl of the Cup if he won it again ;) passes Lord Stanley's Cup to Jonathan Quick.

Conn Smythe Winner, Stanley Cup Champ and most likely Vezina Trophy Winner Jonathan Quick hoists the Cup!

Drew Doughty celebrates!

The Captain presents the Cup to the Kings elusive owner Phil Anschutz at the bench.

Luuuuuuuuuuc Robitaille finally lifts the Cup as a KING!! (He won it as a player, but had to go to Detroit to do it)

Willie Mitchell with the Cup, surrounded by press, players and their families

The photo I've been waiting 24 years for! (Love that Luc and former King/now special assistant to the coach Bernie Nicholls snuck in there on the right :)

And this just makes me smile.. Dustin Brown with one of his three mini-me sons (photo stolen from the awesome LA Kings twitter feed :)

the most awesome video ever... for now

1 more win (knock on wood. no jinxes. no whammies)

I was really nervous today. My brother is coming to LA from Vegas for Game 4 on Wednesday. Everything has fallen into place thus far for us to possibly witness history together in Section 206, Row 7 on our mom's birthday, June 6th. But the Kings had to win tonight for that to still be possible. So I was slightly uneasy all day.

But once this beautifully amazing goal was scored in the 2nd period by Anze Kopitar, with the awesome assists from Dustin Brown and Justin Williams, I was able to breathe for a while. This gave us a two-goal lead.

 

Two more goals came after this. At which point it hit me: This is really happening. The Kings have a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. They are actually, more than likely (knock on wood. no jinxes. no whammies) going to finally -- after 45 years -- win the Stanley Cup!

AHHHHHHHH!

This is REALLY happening! The Kings need to win ONE MORE GAME. Please let that happen on Wednesday so I'm there to see it. (Knock on wood. No jinxes. No whammies.)

These statements were heard around me in Section 206 tonight in the 3rd period. They helped me believe what I was seeing ;)

"This is total domination."

"We are seriously going to win the Cup!"

And from the 7 or 8-year-old sitting next to us in a giant Kings crown + a kids-sized Dustin Brown jersey: "Trying to get a slapshot past Jonathan Quick? Ha. Yeah, right." :)

I've never heard Staples Center louder than tonight. But something tells me it might be a tad louder (Knock on wood. No jinxes. No whammies) on Wednesday night...

Scenes from Game 3

The calm before the storm

The man (previously known as Baby Goalie ;) mentally preparing during warm-ups

Glow-stick-o-rama before the game starts

The Great One was on-hand for the ceremonial puck drop at center ice

1:49 remaining in Game 3. Kings lead 4-0. Everyone was on their feet chanting "We Want The Cup!"

The Final Stats.
The LA Kings are the first team in NHL history to lead 3-0 in all four series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Madness on Chick Hearn Court, between Staples Center and LA Live. NHL Network's camera on a crane only helped excite the crowd, switching chants between "We Want the Cup!" "Go Kings Go!" and "Marrrrr-tyyyy"

For my fellow-Disney peeps, even Wreck-It Ralph joined the party :) 

"The Sandley Cup" sculpture has been updated since I last saw it :) 

Best promo of the night -- text to a number, reply with your name and email, get a psuedo-autographed pic of The Great One at center ice back in your inbox 

dreams DO come true (knock on wood. no jinxes. no whammies)

Remember two months ago, back on April 2nd, when I said I hoped I'd actually get to use this ...

...instead of putting it -- and many of its predecessors -- through the shredder? Well, tomorrow I DO!! AHHHHHH! Yes dreams DO come true sometimes, especially when you spend two months knocking on wood and Jonathan Quick is your goalie :)

GO KINGS GO! (knock on wood. no jinxes. no whammies)

2 more wins (knock on wood. no jinxes. no whammies)

Thank you Jeff Carter ... and Jonathan Quick. And super big-props to Drew Doughty, earning that big paycheck when it counts ;)

 

3 more wins (knock on wood. no jinxes. no whammies)

Thank you Anze Kopitar... and as always, Jonathan Quick (and Colin Fraser too). But mostly Anze Kopitar :)

 

PS:  Love the inside-the-net cam.

nauseous optimism... a study in knocking on wood (no whammies. no jinxes)

One week ago today, the Los Angeles Kings, the hockey team I have cheered for and suffered over since circa 1989, won the second Western Conference Championship in franchise history, earning itself a trip to the holy grail of all sports championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, which start tomorrow.

When Dustin "Pancakes" Penner scored with a little over two minutes remaining in the first overtime to clinch the Game 5 win over the Phoenix Coyotes, I screamed in the middle of my living room, where I'd been pacing for the previous 17+ minutes of sudden death overtime. Then I updated my Twitter and Facebook statuses. Then I kind of just stared at the TV in stunned silence listening to the commentators... until I started pleading with Dustin Brown -- through the TV -- to not touch the Clarence Campbell Bowl when he accepted the Western Conference Championship trophy on behalf of the Kings.

He didn't... thank god. To do so, could have been catastrophic in the superstitious world of sports. I'm pretty sure the Kings of 1993 -- the only other Kings team to ever reach the Finals -- touched that damn bowl when they won it in Toronto after an amazingly awesome Game 7 victory over the evil Maple Leafs, and we all know what happened after that.

It's that dreaded superstitious fear of all the cards crumbling down at the worst possible moment that brings me to the point of today's musing... This is all a little too good to be true for a team and its fans who, a year ago, were elated to just make the playoffs... and who this year almost didn't. Let's review a few of the amazingly awesome things they've done since April 11:

• The Kings are 12-2 in the 2012 Playoffs so far.
• The Kings are the first No. 8 seed in NHL history to eliminate a No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 seeds.
• Round 2 vs. the St. Louis Blues was the first time the Kings have ever swept a playoff series.
• The Kings have won 10 straight road playoff games – an NHL record spanning more than one year 
• The Kings are the first NHL team to win eight straight road games in a playoff year.
• The Kings are the second No. 8 seed to advance to the Stanley Cup Final (EDM -- 2006). Will be the first to try and win the whole thing.

(Factoids courtesy of the amazingly awesome and always entertaining @LAKings Twitter feed)

So as someone who has spent 23 years always eventually being disappointed by the Kings, you can't really blame me for knocking on wood -- or any product made from wood (a guy I work with knocked on a paper sugar packet for me at lunch the other day ;) -- anytime the Kings do anything good. Or anytime anyone says anything good about them. Or anytime anyone thinks farther than one game ahead of now. I'm really nervous about this.

The good thing about not making the playoffs is you have weeks, sometimes even months to prepare for the end of your season. In the playoffs, things can be going great and then with one goal (or one illegally curved stick) it can all crumble. And the farther into the playoffs you get, the more invested you are, both emotionally and financially if, like me, you are a season ticket holder now paying as much for one ticket as you paid for two during the regular season. And therefore it hurts a hell of a lot more when it doesn't go the way you want it to.

I still remember sitting in my parents living room crying in front of the TV on June 9, 1993 as the Montreal Canadiens scored four goals to end the Kings season and win the Cup. (And I still hate Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy and his damn cocky winking eye more than any other athlete and eyeball in history.)

If you're thinking right about now that I'm a freak, I would a) tend to agree with you and b) like to point out that I'm not the only person who feels this way. It's kind of a given that any true Kings fan be a glass-half-empty type -- it's an emotional self-preservation thing -- as this great LA Times article on Saturday explained so well.

All that said, I am willing to admit that I'm nauseously optimistic about our chances against the New Jersey Devils. Their goalie Martin Brodeur, while good, is old (40!). They've played more games than the Kings during the playoffs so hopefully they'll be tired and beaten up. And while they have some great scorers on the team (one of whom the Kings tried in vain to sign last summer -- Ilya Kovalchuk), the Kings are on a roll and have gelled as a true team at the exact right time.

Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown are the Kings' leaders and leading scorers and they will be the focus of the Devils' defense. But Dwight King -- a rookie who had just come up from the minor leagues when I spent a small fortune on a Staples Center suite for my birthday to watch the Kings lose to Calgary 0-1 a mere three and a half months ago -- has five goals in the playoffs. Jeff Carter scored a hat trick in Game 2 vs. Phoenix. Drew Doughty is on fire the last few games, defensively and offensively, finally earning his $7m paycheck. Mike Richards, Penner, Justin Williams, Jarrett Stoll... there are four lines of guys who can score goals and have finally learned to forecheck and carry the puck. And the Kings are solid on defense, having strong, smart veterans paired with brave, quick newbies on each change up... all six of whom have a plus rating.

And then there is the guy who stops goals... Jonathan Quick is the sole reason the Kings made the playoffs this year. And if he stays on his game, then I firmly believe we can win the most treasured of all sports trophies, Lord Stanley's Cup. (And Quick will win the Conn Smythe Trophy for MVP of the playoffs, followed by the first Vezina Trophy [Best Goaltender in the NHL] awarded to a King.) He is awesome. Please dear god let him stay that way for four more wins!

Yep, that's the catch. There's still so much that could happen in the next four to seven games. Everyone is congratulating me and saying I must be so excited about this. I want to be. But as I said above, the best I can muster is nauseously optimistic.

Until the Kings win four more games, there will be no celebrating. Just a continual set of deep breaths and a lot of knocking on wood ... or on sugar packets... whichever I can get to faster ;)

GO KINGS GO! (Knock on wood. No whammies. No jinxes.)