h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I don't know what it is, but Rob Blake just doesn't look right in that Avs uniform. I think it's that girly shade of red they wear... he looks like a sissy. How can he throw those infamous open-ice hip checks when he doesn't look menacing? The shot looks like it has lost some velocity, too.

Yup that is why when they played the thrashers the other day they had to replace the the glass behind the netminder . While I am happy to see the added punch from the blue line I am sad to see Deadmarsh go. He is a great player and I was concerned that he was injured so quickly. I guess it is easy to say that you think that your team will win when they are at the top but I do think that this year is ours. I do hope however that the Kings can get into the playoffs, however it would mean meeting Colorado in the first round. Good to see hockey conversations again Col. S.

Marv

The Kings are set for a huge March push. They have a ton of games this month where they don't leave the state... their only road games are in Anaheim and San Jose.

They're also playing their best hockey of the season since the Blake trade, probably because the distraction is now gone. Guys like Boucher and Berg are stepping up their games on defense, as they realize there is a chance to get more minutes, and they have to team up to fill the void of Rob Blake.

Jozef Stumpel. Matt Schneider. Newly-acquired Adam Deadmarsh. Three impact players, three key injuries. They're winning games without them, because of the new dedication to team defense, and the suddenly solid goaltending with Potvin. But they're still not making up any ground. Phoenix and Edmonton have chosen the same time of the year as the Kings to suddenly get hot. And you have to wonder how long the Kings can keep it up.

I prognosticate that the Kings will fail to end their playoff victory drought this year.

The only reason I would say that I would like them not to make the playoffs is I like them and I do not want the Av's to meet them in the first round. Unless there is a huge problem they are set to take first place. Also the problem of signing key stars for next season is directly hinging on wether or not they can win the cup. If they can, they will be able to afford Roy Sakic and Blake, if not I wonder who goes. I doubt that Peirre LaCroix will let Roy go but Sakic has made noises about not re-signing. The trade with Blake has a clause about the Av's ability to re-sign him. They want to keep him and Ray Bourque on the blue line. I am enjoying watching my team win at the moment. I hope Deadmarsh and the others heal quickly enough for a push. As I said I like the Kings and would love to see them go to the playoffs.

In reading my last post let me clarify...

I would love to see the kings go up to about 6th if possible. That way they play the #3 seed. If they are 8 they meet the Av's barring some major misfortune. (knock on wood).

A 6th seed would be ideal. It would pit them against Dallas (as the Sharks' recent nosedive means they will probably lose the division, and a major move of that sort by the Kings would mean they abused the Sharks, as the two teams meet 4 times before the end of the season). Normally, a matchup against Dallas is a bad thing, but this year, the Kings have actually won the season series. Then again, LA had a good record against Detroit last season, and the Kings still got swept. How likely is it they will move up to 6th? Not very. They're hot right now, but so are Phoenix and Edmonton. The Sharks are cold, and may move down to 9. The best-case scenario I can see has the Sharks dropping out, and the Kings managing to pass one other team, be that a cooling Edmonton or Phoenix, or a choking Vancouver. That would put them in the 7th seed against Detroit, the team that swept them last year.

I am aware of the implications for Colorado this year... it really is an all-or-nothing proposition for them. It hurts me to do it, but I am rooting for them, but, I must admit, I'm rooting for Pittsburg even more. That would be just too good of a story, and too good for hockey in general. Besides taking away my second-favorite King (Luc being #1), the Avs make me sick with their personnel moves. No team should be able to draft and develop their own talent (Drury, Hejduk, Foote, etc.)so well and pick up all the best available talent (Roy, Forsberg, Blake, Bourque,) at the same time. As a fan of a team that has been so inept in the front office (although they've shown signs of improvement... in recent years, the Kings would have gotten a 12-pack of beer and a bag of chips for a Rob Blake), I'm too jealous to really like them.

Still, you have to like Bourque, and I'm still a Blake fan, so I want to see them do well.

Glad to see that we will be on the same side of the fence barring a metting between the Kings and the Av's. BTW Forsberg has played his carreer in Colorado. He came over to the Av's/Nordiques franchise because Lindros was drafted by the Nordiques but refused to play for a Quebecua team. The flyers had him and let him go . He is safe in Colorado for a while because he signed a three year deal with them. In the east I usually root for the Sabres and the Leafs. It should sake out to be a good year all around in the playoffs.

One OT loss and one win back to back with Dallas, and then a drubbing by the Devils. I wish they would play better against the top teams in the east.

It's easy to say that the Avs didn't have much left in the tank after two emotional games against a top opponent in their own conference. Besides, they can't win *every* night.

The Kings may be on their way. Or maybe not. At any rate, last night was the first time they made up any ground since the Blake trade, in spite of the hot streak. The Kings beat the Sharks 4-1 (despite being outshot 40-20) last night. Along with gaining two points on San Jose, they also made up two on the Coyotes and one on Edmonton. That puts them within easy reach of a playoff spot, just 3 shy. Their next three games are in San Jose, then at home against Phoenix and Edmonton. These are critical games, but they can find themselves in a playoff spot at the end of the next three.

I wish your team luck. I just wish that the Av's had a better record agaist the top teams in the east. While I know that winning is not always possible I would prefer to see a winning record for the season against the WIngs and the Devils, Blues, Stars, Sens. They have lost to all of them.

My prediction may have been a bit conservative. The Kings play Phoenix tonight. They trail them by only 2 points. A regulation win gives them the 8th seed. The Kings have more wins than the Coyotes, and they also have one more game to play.

On a note similar to your last, though, the Kings are 0-2-1 against the Coyotes this season. But now they have to do it without Keith Howeveryouspellit.

Well the Av's beat Detriot and then made up a two goal deficit against the wild (most underrated team in the NHL imho) this weekend. They did clinch their 7th straight conference championship yesterday and are trailing the record for that stat by one year to the Canadiens of the 50's. Pho can play without Tkhachuck (I think you were right it is really howeveryouspellit) but it will jurt their scoring. Bonne Chance my friend. We are into the home stretch here....

Good show for the Kings my friend. I am happy that they are ahead. With a game in hand I hope they have an easy sched on the way. Colorado has two games in hand on Detroit but some grueling games to look forward to.

Things aren't too easy for them. They have two more against San Jose, two more against Vancouver, and one more against Edmonton. That does mean that they can ascend the ladder, if they keep their current run going. It's very heartening to see them playing so well at this point in the season, and if they make it to the 6th seed, then perhaps you'll see some more of that excitement I was showing at the beginning of the year.

Other +.500 teams they have yet to play includes a rematch against Phoenix, and that team that stole their captain. I'll be able to see one more regular season game, but the dates didn't work out in my favor, so in all the great games yet to come, I'll be seeing them take on Columbus.

One day I will make it to Denver during the season to see a game. As for this season I rather doubt it. I am going to try to catch most of the Av's game tonight as they host the Sharks. I do not like San Jose all that much so I hope they get creamed, but I know that the Av's can be beat. They were down 0-3 against the BJ's and barely came back. With ten more games this season the Av's might be able to get a 120 point season. It will be close.

I'll be pulling for your boys tonight, then. Another loss for San Jose coupled with a Kings win tonight over Edmonton puts them 2 points out of sixth place. And with the way my boys are playing right now, yours don't want to meet them in the first round.

Well I would love to see a sixth seed for your guys. I am concerned however Blake went out in the sencond with a sprained knee and Roy in the third for tendonitis inthe knee. We need the boys back. Abeischer is not Roy and I do not know if he can carry the team to a cup in his rookie year the way Roy did.

After I posted that, I went to ESPN and found that the game you mentioned had already been played. Your boys handles the Sharks, so all is good.

That sucks that Blake is out. I was looking forward to the game when he plays his old teammates, but if he won't be in the lineup for it, then I have no reason to watch it. Not that I could anyway... I'll be at work.

As for Aebischer, he has looked good, but he's a rookie, and this is playoff time. It's a completely different environment, and there is no telling how he'l respond. You know how Roy will respond.

Overall, things look pretty bleak for your team. If they take an early exit, they will turn into a rebuilding team in the offseason. Let's just hope that they run into a cold team in the first round, like Phoenix or San Jose, and that they can get healthy during that extra time. Because no matter who they face in the 2nd round, they won' be easy.

Hate to burst in, but, well, you are talking about hockey.

The truly worrying thing about Burke is that he had surgery on his right knee a couple of years ago. Now his left knee is sprained. Hopefully, that's all it really is - a sprain. If its anything more serious...well, I just don't want to think of it.

Roy's tendonitis is not a good thing, but - speaking as someone who has lived through it - can be dealt with. He was looking really good last night up until he left the ice, so I think he'll be ok. And, besides, Abie is looking good out there. He had some great saves. Can he keep it up through the playoffs? Aye, there's the crux...

Anyway, everyone I've seen make predictions thinks its going to be the Avs and the Devils for the Cup. Sounds like a good match-up to me.

G7

Roy is going on the road trip this weekend which will start at St. Louis and continue at Boston. He will probably play in Boston and possibly in St. Louis.