One of my earlier blogs this year compared the Oilers and the Kings as two teams rebuilding and how both went about that Herculean task. Edmonton attacked their do-over with wide, broad and some might argue desperate choices. In fact, a statement could be made that Mike Richards and Alex Ovechkin have Kevin Lowe to thank for their 12 and 13 year deals. The scare of a potential offer sheet motivated the hockey equivalent of lifetime tenure in these recent contract extensions.
In contrast, the Kings approach is the exact opposite. Fine tune top to bottom, no player, contract or team vendor is too small for Lombardi to attack and rethink. Los Angeles’ take has opponents taking the Kings lightly and motivated more than one reporter to coin the phrase the “Lowly Kings”. In fairness, this year’s Kings could bring a sane soul to drink with their inconsistency.
A funny thing happened Tuesday. One team got started from minute one. One team skated nowhere in the first, took off in the second which turned out to be too little too late. In a nice change of pace, the Kings were the former and not the latter. The Oilers came into the game off a solid win against Calgary and in the midst of a four game home winning streak.
By the end of the game, one team felt better and the other began a new period of self doubting. Can the Oilers ever be a .500 team? What will it take? How do they get over that hump? There was more than one discussion by the home team how not to have a let down against the Kings, to take the last place team seriously. Talk is apparently cheap considering in the first period, the Kings outshot the Oilers 13-3 and went up by a goal. The only place the Oilers dominated was the face-off circle.
Another sub-plot involved some retribution between the netminders. Garon left Los Angeles when he wisely figured out he was no longer in the Kings plans as anything beyond insurance. This year LaBarbera has had a solid hold on the Kings’ net. In an atypical twist of fate, Lowe’s least heralded signing is becoming his best as Garon has taken over the #1 spot in Edmonton.
Garon explained this turn of events in Tuesday’s Edmonton Sun:
"I thought going to LA would be my chance," Garon said. "They changed the coach and the GM. I was not the guy any more. I knew I would not get a chance, so it was best for me to get out of there. "Coming here, they made me feel like they really wanted me. They've given me a chance to succeed and I really want to take it."
I take issue with Garon suggesting that he didn’t have a chance with Los Angeles. Had he been more consistent in his play and his health, the mistake called Cloutier might never have happened. Either way, both players are now their team’s #1 guy, so this is a distinction without a difference. The article mentioned can be read here:
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL...f-4772797.html
Back to the game at hand, it is really interesting to note the difference between how Canadian press and Canadian television commentators have such divergent takes on the Kings. The print media refers to Los Angeles only in the negative. In contrast, Edmonton’s television crew gave the visitors far more respect. The following are some quotes from Tuesday’s game about the winners and from two of the losing team's players:
As to O’Sullivan who had a goal and an assist:
“I don’t understand how the Wild could give up on him. He’s got star written all over him.”
On Kings’ team defense:
“Kings are doing a good job getting in the passing lanes so all of the Oilers’ shots are on the outside.” “The Los Angeles defense is the weakness of this hockey team.”
Team Positives:
“When Kings bring their ‘A’ game, they are as good as any team in the league.”
Moreau on the Oilers’ start:
Captain Moreau: “Our start was unacceptable.” As to getting the Oilers started, Moreau’s comment illustrated why he became the new captain, “It is my job to get the team going.”
Penner on the loss:
“We waited too long to play our game. We weren’t ready at the start.”
My Take:
This may be the Kings most thorough 60 minute road effort of the year. Crawford let his players play and they did just that. The lines were essentially left alone the entire game and are existing lines from the prior wins, which are as follows:
O’Sullivan – Kopitar – Brown
Frolov – Armstrong – Nagy
Purcell – Handzus – Calder
Ivanans – Giuliano – Thornton
As to the call-ups, Harrold was a healthy scratch. In his first NHL game, Purcell provided a solid game on the third line. But for an inch and a cross-bar, he would have had his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. He showed hustle, was responsible defensively and didn’t look out of place, 3 shots on goal, 3 missed shots and nineteen shifts.
He provided an interview regarding his first game which can be read here:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=98529&sc=83
Last night also provided a really solid showing of two netminders giving their best. The game would have been far more lopsided but for Garon. LaBarbera was also strong when called upon and kept his focus in a game where he saw a scant three shots on goal in the first. For those who didn’t get to see the game, which is entirely possible since it was pay-per-view in Edmonton and not televised in Los Angeles, watch the scoring highlights here:
http://kings.nhl.tv/team/launch.htm?hlg=20072008,2,682
This team and these players are slowly getting on the same page and proving why after this season; the description of the “Lowly Kings” is a phrase that best get retired this season.
Carla Muller
Carla.hockeygal@att.net
Carla Muller
Committed and Confident 
TOTM Award(s): 1
