Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Kings Escape the Dodgers Curse

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.


I saw Tommy Lasorda waddling around the Chick Hearn Press Room where they feed the media at STAPLES Center tonight. I wasn't certain, but he seemed to be coming from the vicinity of the bathrooms. I made a mental note of using the bathrooms in the upstairs hockey press box. I've been around Dodger Stadium enough to know better.

It was Dodgers pride night for the Kings where they took to the ice for pregame warmups in Dodger sweaters. With their focus in getting ready for the playoffs, I don't think they have taken notice of the Dodgers play recently. The Dodgers just got swept by the San Diego Padres, and they have scored 2.73 runs per game, second-worst to the Miami Marlins.

Knowing how superstitious athletes and sports teams are, I would have thought the Kings would seek to distance themselves from the blight of bad play. But who doesn't love seeing Lasorda drop the puck, shake Dustin Brown's hand and ignore Jack Johnson's outstretched hand?

Support for LAist comes from

Perhaps that sparked all of the animosity in the game since I don't remember a Kings-Blue Jackets game that had this much extracurricular activity. Perhaps it's because the Blue Jackets are actually competitive in April for the first time in what seems like forever.

Regardless the Kings did manage to dodge whatever bad mojo the Dodgers paraphernalia brought them holding off the Blue Jackets intensity with a 2-1 victory.

"We played desperate asgainst a desperate hockey club," Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said. "There was lots going on out there, typical Columbus and LA game right?"

Even he had a larf.

The tone was set early, old pal James Wisniewski and Justin Williams exchanging greetings midway through the first periodsending them off with rough penalties. Twenty seconds later Dalton Prout hooked Jeff Carter, and the Kings scored on the ensuring 4-on-3 power play, a Mike Richards shot cleaned up by Drew Doughty. Anze Kopitar picked up his 300th career assist on the tally.

Of course the first period hasn't been the problem for the Kings in recent games. The Kings seemed to have taken opiates during the first intermission recently allowing the opposition to get back in the game.

The Kings tonight minimized the Blue Jackets scoring chances although they did allow Prout to tie things up in the middle of the period. But they responded a couple of shifts later with a goal of their own, a rebound shot from Kyle Clifford that was the game winner.

Support for LAist comes from

"They're a tough team," Jackets head coach Todd Richards siad. "They are a committed group as how they play the game. They're big. They skate well."

Jonathan Quick had 20 saves in the win while Sergei Bobrovsky tallied 21. Of course Bobrovsky does lead Quick in this:

Yes, Sergei Bobrovtree.

Looking at the standings, the Kings remain in fourth with four games left to play. However they are only five points behind the Ducks who have got five games left in the schedule. So it's still possible that they can win the division. It's not likely, but it's still possible.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist