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

They lost their long-time marquee player to trade, and were counted out because of their spotty goaltending and pourous defense. The Kings just got sick and tired of losing in the playoffs. And if a comeback from a 3-goal deficit in the final 7 minutes doesn't show heart, I don't know what does.

Of course, I'm not saying anyone else should cheer for them. I'm rooting for them because they've been my team for years, and they're doing better than I've ever seen. After them, though, I'll cheer for Mario and the Pens. If they suffer elimination first, though, I'll root for the Avs, if only for Blake's sake. After all, if they didn't win another postseason game, I'd still be very happy with the outcome of this year.

The Kings have been to the playoffs since '93... they just hadn't won a game. They were swept in the first round in '98 by the Blues (and I still want to cross-check Geoff Courtnall into the goalpost for that one) and again by the Red Wings in '00.

It is an interesting series thus far, I must say. I am truly enjoying watching the Kings play, CS.

However, I am still cheering for the Avs.

G7

That doesn't sound so much like heart, but haplessness.

Before you respond to that keep in mind that I'm a fan of a team that consistently likes to choke in the playoffs. So, to borrow a phrase from our former president, I can feel your pain.

I would like to see the Pens v. the Leafs in the Eastern Conference Finals. However it would take a miracle to beat New Jersey.

Yes, but your team has always been considered as one of the most talented teams in the league before each choke, and has often been the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Kings came in as severe underdogs, a 7th seed matched up against the #2 team in the league, and their opponent had been absolutely on fire... with no home losses this calendar year and nearing a 3-1 series lead after 53 minutes of game 4. I've always liked the underdog, but especially when they're my team.

The Leafs are playing pretty well right now, and stole one in New Jersey. If Game 2 hadn't turned into a shootout, they would have gone home with a 2-0 series advantage. Oh well...

That's why it's sooooo frustrating to see the choke. Sure it's inevitable, but it's still painful to see a team go 4-0 against Buffalo in the regular season and lose ground during the playoffs--even when their best players who were sidelined due to injuries are back on the ice. It happens EVERY year.

I would like to see the Leafs win because they've been playing great, especially Cujo. The crowds in Toronto are just as great, and, hopefully that energy will give them an edge at home.

It took a long time but the Av's finally broke the Staples Center curse. What will the next game hold?

Well, the Kings destroyed a lot of streaks in the first round, so I suppose they were doomed to suffer the same fate in the second. And it looks like the Kings had that one coming, too... they were outplayed in Game 1 but got a win, so they outplayed the Avs last night but came up empty. I'm sure that Potvin is thinking long and hard about that soft goal in the 1st period.

I was saddened by the fans' reaction to Blake. Were they doing that before he scored the goal? At any rate, I began to like him less as the game went on... his only big hits were when he was throwing Ziggy around like a rag doll... perhaps in an attempt to equalize the loss of their own best scorer. Sakic is a big, physical guy who was unfortunate enough to get caught in a bad situation. Ziggy is just a little guy, and Blake was teeing off on him with malice. Luckily, he's a tough little s**t.

The LA fans started doing that from the start of the game. The commentators on ESPN even said that Andy Murray was encouraging the booing of Blake to put him off his game. When Ray Bourque played in Boston the first time after being traded to the Avs, the Bruins fans gave him a standing ovation. I guess Southern Californians think differently of their heroes...

Speaking of other class acts, did anyone see the fellow who sat next to the area that led from the Avs bench to their locker room and diligently gave any and every Avs player the finger each time they traversed that few feet?

Perhaps, Colonel, you should think less of the fans...

I must admit that the fans were very disappointing last night. They did the same thing in the first series though, so maybe we're expecting too much looking at Borque's and Deadmarsh's treatment. Both were treated as returning heroes, rather than the disgraceful treatment of Blake last night.

That's ok though. We beat the Staples curse and can finally settle into this series.

And how about the Sabres last night? Where did that come from???

G7

I think there are some important differences between the return of Blake and the return of Bourque. For one thing, that first meeting occurred in the playoffs, where the game meant so much more. When the Avs came to Staples before the playoffs but after the trade, they had a pregame tribute to Blake. Unfortunately, he was injured, and so did not receive the fan appreciation that was displayed.

And, as you said, Murray may have encouraged it. But of course I think little to nothing of the fans... they're mostly from LA. If you think they're annoying on tv, try sitting in the stands with them...

I wouldn't be too hasty to throw off the Staples curse. I believe this makes your team 2-9-1 there in their last 12.

I have faith in my boys. And hopefully we'll have Joe back soon. I haven't heard what the diagnosis is yet, but my fingers are crossed.

It was definitely the fans that I had problems with in last night's game. And the players - on both sides - obviously did too. I'm very sorry that you were forced to sit in the stands with them, CS. They were beyond rude and provided enough negative energy that stupid penalties were made on both sides. I hope that they are talked to before next game - not that I really expect it to help too much...

I'd also like to take a second and point out that the CO fans didn't catcall Deadmarsh, Miller or Felix, even if it was a playoff game. That's just plain rude...

G7

I have faith in my boys. And hopefully we'll have Joe back soon. I haven't heard what the diagnosis is yet, but my fingers are crossed.

It was definitely the fans that I had problems with in last night's game. And the players - on both sides - obviously did too. I'm very sorry that you were forced to sit in the stands with them, CS. They were beyond rude and provided enough negative energy that stupid penalties were made on both sides. I hope that they are talked to before next game - not that I really expect it to help too much...

I'd also like to take a second and point out that the CO fans didn't catcall Deadmarsh, Miller or Felix, even if it was a playoff game. That's just plain childish...

G7

Actually they are now a whopping 1-4-0 in Staples Center, this was their first win there. But in LA they are now 2-9-1. It was an exciting game but I feared when I got home after the first to find that Super Joe was out with a shoulder injury. If he has his way he will be back for game 4 but I think the thing to remember is when a player comes back too early the other team (Regardless of the team, I am not maligning the Kings who I like when they are playing anyone else) will make plays for the injury. It would be a shame to have the MVP of Colorado if not the league out for hte rest of the playoffs. Peter Forsberg stepped up his game markedly after Sakic's injury. I hope that strength and fire stays with him for the rest of the post season.

The Vancouver fans badly mistreated Felix when he played there in the regular season. They booed him far worse than the LA fans booed Blake, and held up signs. I've also read that the Canadian fans booed during the US national anthems in Vancouver and Edmonton during the first round playoff series there. The Dallas fans retaliated when the series came back by booing the Canadian national anthem. I'm sure that, had the Vancouver series gone one more game, the Colorado fans would have done the same. And that's sad in just too many ways, considering that Edmonton's star is an American (Doug Weight... former co-star Bill Guerin is also American), and Dallas, like any team in the NHL, is laden with Canadian talent, most notably Ed Belfour.

LA fans don't suck... hockey fans suck. We just happened to notice it last night in LA. We'll see another example tonight, in another game, in another town.

However, I wouldn't put the chiding chants of "Patrick" on the same level as the boos for Rob Blake. One is done without any particular malice, just to help the team and annoy the guy. The booing is a very personal insult.

Some cities are worse than others however. I seem to notice that Detriot Chicago seem to be the worst about jeering their teams.

Vancouver's fans are horrible. We had similar problems with them as well. And it had similar effects against their players. And I've noticed that any time the fans are that negative anywhere, the players suffer for it.

Colorado fans don't seem to have these tendencies though. Maybe its just me, but I don't ever remember booing former players or other teams. Even Ricci was ok when he came back - playoffs or not. And most of the other games that I watch don't have the level of vindictiveness. It just seems sad to me, really. Hockey - in fact all sports - should be a positive thing, not a negative thing.

I'm not ragging on the Kings or their individual fans, CS. They're a great team and I am very happy that they made it this far in the playoffs. Its a true testament to their determination and skill. I just wish that the fans as a collective could behave better and give positive energy to their team. It would make for a much better series all the way around.

G7

Well, we can't tell about the Colorado fans, because they haven't lost an absolute fan favorite player, and the first-round series didn't return to Colorado after the Vancouver boos at the national anthem. We might see a different Colorado fanclub after losing Joe Sakic or Patrick Roy to free agency just before the playoffs. And we saw the fans get just as ugly as the players during the heyday of the Avs-Wings rivalry.

I'm not trying to belittle the Avs fans, anymore than I am trying to excuse the Kings fans. The people in this forum are the kind of people I'd love to watch a game with, since you guys are a classy bunch. As for the rest of the fans... hey, it could be worse... they could be soccer fans ...

Soccer fans... Now that's a scary thought...

I agree, though. I'd rather watch a game with the folks here than just about anyone else.

G7

Hmmm, classy? Here I am with my Tequila Hoppers t-shirt in which I will be swilling beer as I watch the game tomorrow .

Sounds classy to me.

G7