bye scuds... and thanks for getting your face smashed

A little over a year ago, Rob Scuderi got his face boarded into the glass at Staples Center by Steve Bernier of the New Jersey Devils in the first period of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.



Bernier received a five minute major penalty. What that means to you non-hockey people, is the Kings had a one-man advantage for five minutes. But unlike a normal power play, when once you score, the power play is over and the penalty ends, on a major power play the penalty doesn't end when you score. It goes the whole five minutes. You have a man-advantage for five whole minutes. And you can score as many times as you're able during that power play.

The Kings scored three goals in that five minutes, putting them up 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals with a series lead of 3-2 games. The Devils were deflated. And the Kings and crowd at Staples Center were not only able to breathe a bit, but were totally fired up on their way to a joyous celebration 50 minutes of play later :)

Today, Scuderi -- as an unrestricted free-agent -- left the Kings for a better deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He's the first significantly contributing member of the 2012 Championship team to leave the Kings.

Scuderi (aka Scuds) was one of our veteran, reliable, stay-at-home, help-the-newbie-D's-get-their-footing defensemen. And for that, he will be missed.

But he will always be remembered for sacrificing his face (and coming back to finish the game!) the night the LA Kings won their Stanley Cup! And I wish him well.

things that make me smile

... Reliving the LA Kings' Road to the 2012 Stanley Cup.

This is a great retrospective video series they've been showing during intermissions at games this season. I'm mostly posting it here for me so I can watch them all in one place whenever I want to, but hopefully the hockey fans amongst you will enjoy it too :)

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 1: Stoll's OT Winner

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 2: Penner's OT Winner

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 3: Scuderi Hit

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 4: Daryl Sutter Hired

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 5: The Trade Deadline

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 6: Brown Hits Sedin

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 7: Kings Sweeps St. Louis

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 8: LAX Arrival

Added 3/30/13
Stanley Cup Moments Episode 9: Kopitar's OT Winner

Added 4/5/13
Stanley Cup Moments Episode 10: Carter's OT Winner

Added 4/8/13
Stanley Cup Moments Episode 11: The 5-Minute Major

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 12: The Final Minutes

Added 4/12/13
Stanley Cup Moments Episode 13: The Stanley Cup

Added 4/16/13
Stanley Cup Moments Episode 14: Looking Back

Added 4/20/13
Stanley Cup Moments Episode 15: The 16-4 Playoff Record

Stanley Cup Moments Episode 16: Quick Wins the Conn Smythe

Added 4/23/13
Stanley Cup Moments Episode 17: Champagne Shower

Added 4/26/13
Stanley Cup Moments Episode 18: Championship Parade

scenes from game 3

Thursday, May 17, 2012 -- Scenes from Section 206

The Key 3

He even stops shots in warmups

Hand, don't fail me now!

Poised and waiting

The Starting Lineup

Rob Scuderi

Drew Doughty

Anze Kopitar

Dustin Brown

 

Justin Williams

Jonathan Quick

60 minutes of play later, LA Kings Win 2-1 on goals from Kopitar and King, to lead the Western Conference Finals 3-0. 

They need just 5 more wins for greatness. 

(Knock on wood. No jinxes. No whammies)