May 14, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings fans celebrate during game two of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the San Jose Sharks at the Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Sharks 4-3 to take a 2-0 series lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Kings made a miraculous comeback in the final 2 minutes against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday evening in Los Angeles. With the help of a controversial delay of game penalty, the Kings rode their two man advantage into a two game advantage. 3 Keys of the Game Two Win:

Kings take the Power Back

Jonathan Quick unusually allowed 3 goals, so the Kings needed to generate more than their usual amount of offense. The powerplay was the difference. The Kings only converted 2 of their 12 powerplay opportunities in the playoffs heading into Game 2. Helped by a two man advantage with two minutes to go, the Kings converted 3 of their 6 powerplay opportunities. San Jose can’t expect to win while giving up 6 odd man opportunities. But the Kings reversed their offensive fortunes, while continuing their power killing dominance holding the Sharks goal-less in 4 chances.

Sharks Stoll the Puck

Without the Kings best percentage centerman in the faceoff circle, the Sharks asserted their dominance in that category. Without Jarett Stoll who was out with an injury after Raffi Torres committed a chargin penalty that will keep Torres out for the remainder of the series, the Kings struggled. They won only 21 faceoffs to 44 by San Jose. The Kings were lucky to overcome this defecit, even though this has not been a strength of the Kings all season.

Darryl Trust

One of Darryl Sutter‘s best qualities as a coach is the confidence he instills in his players. That confidence is rooted in trust. Sutter trusted his players, particularly his young ones, and they rewarded his belief. When the Kings tied the game with just over a minute remaining, look at who was on the ice. After winning the faceoff, rookie Jake Muzzin passed the puck up to rookie Tyler Toffoli, who slotted across to third or fourth liner, Trevor Lewis. With the game on the line, the Kings’ young players performed. And Drew Doughty, who is not a rookie by any means but is 24 years old, was trusted to play 28 minutes. And Doughty delivered.

May 14, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) handles the puck during game two of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the San Jose Sharks at the Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Sharks 4-3 to take a 2-0 series lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

In their first time with home ice advantage in 6 straight series, the Los Angeles Kings were poised to cash in. Up 1-0 against the San Jose Sharks in the series, with a 2 goal advantage midway through the second period the Kings were at a decided advantage with Jonathan Quick in goal. But the Sharks rallied off 3 straight goals to take a 3-2 lead late into the third period. But powerplays and 1 crucial call proved to be the ultimate difference makers.

If you missed the game here are the highlights minus 1 controversial play.

With just under 3 minutes to play, San Jose’s Brad Stuart took a tripping penalty. And 30 seconds later Marc-Edouard Vlasic took a controversial delay of game penalty when he flipped the puck over the boards in his defensive end. The rule is very cut and dry. If you shoot it over the boards in your defensive end it’s a penalty. It’s a very stiff but accepted deterrent. Here is the controversial play:
it would have been easy for the refs to have said it was deflected. Considering the trajectory of the puck and the situation he clearly was not trying to shoot it over. The game could have continued with the Kings on the powerplay, and the Kings might have been able to tie it up with the man advantage.

But when it comes to officiating in the year 2013 one phrase trumps all others when it comes to officiating: Get it right

The refs did not settle for an accepted call, but they tried to get it right on the ice. It’s impossible to tell if they were right from the video, but from a King’s fan it’s a good chance they did.

The puck does not touch Jeff Carter‘s stick on its way out of play. From the second slow motion replay, you can see Carter clearly influences the play though as he stick checks the stick of Vlasic. But it could have touched his jersey. It’s impossible to tell if the black puck touches the black home jersey before it gently nestles into the first few rows at STAPLES Center.

What resulted was a 5 on 3 rebound goal from the captain Dustin Brown, and less than 20 seconds later with a one man advantage a tap in from Trevor Lewis after Tyler Toffoli beat his man and slid the puck across the front of the goal. The Kings had 6 powerplays, 3 goals from those penalties, and 2 wins after 2 games. Advantage Los Angeles.

It’s unfortunate that a play that the Sharks, Kings, and refs ultimately were helpless to prevent decided a pivotal playoff game. The puck slowly rising up and out of play. But ultimately I think the refs got the call right, even if the spirit of the rule could have allowed them to resume the game without the call on the ice.

May 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) and St. Louis Blues defenseman Jordan Leopold (33) battle for the puck in the first period of game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Home ice advantage is something new for the Kings, but they are still going to have to bring their A game to STAPLES Center and later the Shark Tank. Here are three keys to the series for the Kings:

Be Big

The Kings are one of the biggest teams in the league. Even the Kings skilled players are big bodies to pressure the opposition. The Kings are going to need to play physical and get the Sharks off their rhythm. The Kings best rhythm is when they have the other team off theirs. Maybe without one of their big bodies, Kyle Clifford who is questionable, the Kings big bodies need to put the hurt on the whole series even more. Dustin Penner continued to make his money in the playoffs during the first round, and needs to continue that along with Dwight King and Jordan Nolan.

Control the Puck

If the Kings want to play their game, they must be more effective in the Faceoff circle. The Sharks have two of the best centermen in the circle in Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski who won faceoffs at a ridiculous 68% and 58% respectively. Mike Richards was the only Kings center who was over 50% in their opening round series.

Rattle Niemi

Antti Niemi was on his game in the Sharks opening round sweep of the Vancouver Canucks. He boasted a .937 save percentage, just a few notches worse than Jonathan Quick. The Kings net presence played like it was 2012 and carried the Kings through the first round. But the Kings have been known to go through goal droughts. If Niemi has confidence the Kings are in danger of being frustrated and going cold. But if the Kings get to him early in the series, they can rattle him, and take him off his Stanley Cup winning form when he was with the Blackhawks.

May 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings players shake hands after game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Staples Center. Kings won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Kings will face the San jose Sharks in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning Tuesday night at 7:00pm. The strange thing is the Kings will not be boarding a plane to San Jose to the Shark Tank, but the Kings will play Game 1 at home.

The Kings have won 5 consecutive playoff series as the road team. Before beating San Jose in the first round 4 games to 2, the Kings beat the Canucks, Blues, Coyotes, and Devils on their run to to the Cup a season ago. This is unfamiliar territory.

But acknowledging that this will be a disadvantage to this veteran team is not looking at the facts. The Kings were a much better home than road team this season. They won the previous 5 series with their play. Now with the numbers in their favor, it’s all but the superstitious who like their chances against the division rival San Jose.

Darryl Sutter would shrug off the streak of road series wins with a saying that should and probably is on a T-Shirt somewhere. It may not make sense, but it’s the kind of no nonsense delicately mixed with straight talk that gets this team going. The Kings put themselves in a tough spot in round 1 when they lost the first two on the road to St. Louis. With home ice advantage, the odds are in their favor to start on a winning note.

May 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) and St. Louis Blues defenseman Jordan Leopold (33) battle for the puck in the first period of game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Four wins down, 12 to go.

That’s how many wins that the defending Stanley Cup champions need to keep that iconic trophy as the L.A. Kings, after losing the first two games of their Western Conference Quarterfinals to the St. Louis Blues, won their 4th straight game over them on Friday night, 2-1, and advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs.

A beyond-capacity crowd of 18,346 at Staples Center went particularly wild when Dustin Penner listened to his teammates’ and the fans’ cries to shoot the puck and broke a 1-1 tie with 0.2 seconds left in the second period, which ended up being the difference.

“If you don’t try, you don’t know,” Penner said afterward about his goal.

Goalie Jonathan Quick, who stopped 21 of 22 shots in the game, has a .944 save percentage so far in this series and is fast reminding folks of the form he had last season, which won him the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

The fact that every game in this series was a one-goal affair says much about how intense the games were between the Kings and the 4th-seeded Blues.

“(St. Louis) played a great series,” Penner commented. “They got unlucky a few times. We got lucky.”

The fifth-seeded Kings, who won their 10th straight home game, will next play either the sixth-seeded San Jose Sharks, who swept Vancouver in their first round series, or – hold on to your jerseys…                       

May 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings fans celebrate after left wing Dustin Penner (25) scored in the last seconds in the second period of game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Anaheim Ducks in what would be the ultimate showdown for hockey supremacy in Los Angeles and Southern California.

The second-seeded Ducks, having lost in overtime to the Detroit Red Wings 4-3, are tied at three game apiece in their first round series and will play Game 7 at Honda Center on Sunday night.

If the Ducks win, SoCal will become the focus of the hockey world for the next couple of weeks, the significance being that this would be the first time that two teams from the Los Angeles area met in a playoff.

Can the Ducks hold up their end of the deal and meet their L.A. rivals, separated by just 30 miles on I-5?

We’ll know in roughly 48 hours…

L.A. Sports Hubbers: Who would you rather see the Kings play in the next round – the Ducks or the Sharks?

Apr 13, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (23) takes the puck down ice as Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sheldon Souray (44) defends in the first period of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

I know, I know – the above headline looks kind of odd.

After all, how can a hockey game be held outdoors in sunny Los Angeles, where temperatures in the winter often reach 70 degrees and up?

And in a baseball stadium no less?

Apparently the NHL has figured out how to pull it off, because according to the Los Angeles Times, the L.A. Kings and the Anaheim Ducks – currently in the middle of their first round playoff series as they are tied at two games apiece with the St. Louis Blues and the Detroit Red Wings, respectively – are slated to play in one of six outdoor Winter Classic games next season, facing off at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, January 25, 2014, at 7:00 p.m.

The Kings played one previous outdoor game in Las Vegas in 1991, but that didn’t work so well as bad ice and grasshoppers in the desert climate marred the occasion. Due to advanced technology as far as keeping the ice cold and game-ready, however, the NHL is able to have an outdoor game in Southern California.

The fact that the rink will be built at night, laid out from first base to third base with reflective thermal blankets covering the ice during the day to protect it – as well as the game being played at night – also helps logistics.

The Kings, according to the Times, had wanted this game for years and had actively lobbied to the NHL to stage it. It will undoubtedly be a huge event as with the capacity at Dodger Stadium being 56,000, it will guarantee the largest audience to ever watch a hockey game not only in Los Angeles or California, but on the entire West Coast.

This is not a bad development at all, considering that there almost wasn’t a season this year due to the NHL lockout and deep animosities between the league and the players.

“We’re trying to…give more people an opportunity to tailgate and celebrate around hockey,” NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins commented. “I like the idea of tailgating in shorts.”

Apr 11, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings mascot Bailey gestures during the game against the Colorado Avalanche at the Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Avalanche 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

April 24, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) makes a save in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Kings begin their quest to win the Stanley Cup in back to back seasons. if they are successful, they will be the first team to accomplish this feat since the 90s. Thoughts of riding down Figueroa in fire trucks, holding the Stanley Cup high above as fans cheer on; taking the Cup to a Hermosa Beach Bar the night of winning the Cup; taking it home to visit their families fuel this team. And these thoughts stoke the fire of almost every other team as well.

The defending Stanley Cup Champs don’t look much different than they did last year. They are missing WIllie Mitchell at the blue line as they have all season, Matt Greene is questionable with a back injury, they’ve added Robyn Regehr and Keaton Ellerby in trades, moved up rookie stud Jake Muzzin from Manchester, and have Kyle Clifford back being a nuisance on the forecheck after missing almost all of the playoffs last year with a concussion suffered in Game 1 against Vancouver.

And they will start facing a familiar foe, in a familiar place: St. Louis on the road. Ken Hitchcock’s team was swept last year, which will fuel them in this first round series. And they still have home ice advantage. If the Kings can get to Brian Elliott early in the series it would be a big boost. But the most important thing for the Kings is if the Conn Smythe winner shows up. He has played his best hockey of the season in the last 2 weeks. And if Jonathan Quick is the player the Kings know he can be, this will be a deep playoff run.

Apr 9, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Dwight King (74) chases the puck in the Dallas Stars zone during the game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Visiting STAPLES Center on Thursday Night for a change wasn’t the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets. It was a hard fought game against the playoff contending Columbus Blue Jackets. Columbus is currently the proud holder of the 8th and final playoff spot in the West, 2 points clear of Dallas and Detroit. That’s a seed that the Kings reminisce over fondly, but would not trade their position in the standings for, nor trade the result of their 2-1 win.

After the win, the Kings sit 6 points clear of the Blue Jackets in 4th place in the conference, but have the same points total as Vancouver and San Jose above and below them in the conference–55. But 4th is still a whopping 15 points behind NHL leaders Chicago.

Columbus was beaten, but when the buzzer sounded they didn’t give surprisingly. The typically doormat team started a scrum behind Jonathan Quick’s net. It wasn’t a fight because everyone on the ice became involved. It wasn’t a brawl either because no real punches were thrown. It was a lot of pushing and face washes up along the boards. And it was a little more than a skirmish, or dust-up, so I would consider it a scrum.
Robin Regehr was the initial King in the fray, before each player absolved of their game-playing responsibility when the final buzzer sounded came in to help or hurt someone on the ice.

Drew Doughty was the 4th person involved and came skating into rescue his knew skating partner and escalate the scrum, but was ultimately subdued to the ground rather easily by Brandon Dubinsky. Jonathan Quick stood his ground, and Trevor Lewis came over to stick up for his goalie and his subdued buddy, Doughty.

It was eerie to see the Blue Jackets as neither doormats after their defeat nor in the closely competitive game. Kyle Clifford scored the game winner on a rebound through heavy traffic, shortly after Columbus tied the game in the second period. This was Clifford’s first goal in 17 games, a much needed shake of that scoring drought.

The Kings got their desired 2 points, but also got Matt Greene back for the first time all season. One of the Kings leaders notched 16 minutes of ice time paired with rookie Jake Muzzin, as Keaton Ellerby sat in the stead of Greene. The first time 2013-er was not especially sharp, as he picked up a penalty for tripping in the third period, and was onthe ice for Columbus only goal.

The defense has played very well this year considering the injuries and young players, but it is comforting to have 2 points and 1 Matt Greene back in the lineup.

Apr 7, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings players react during the shootout against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. The Ducks defeated the Kings 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

For hockey purists, warm weather cities like LA shouldn’t even have a hockey team, let alone the Stanley Cup champs, let alone two hockey teams. But hockey fans in Southern California know there are not two teams in LA. Yes of course there are hockey fans in Southern California.

The Anaheim Ducks from Orange County won the Freeway Faceoff Sunday evening at the Honda Center. And the rivalry between these two teams in this hard hitting game is validated in the stands. Neither Orange County nor LA want two hockey teams in LA. The Ducks can stay where they are, in Orange County, as far as Kings and Ducks fans are concerned.

The Ducks got the last extra point after the Kings struggles in shootouts continued. Jonathan Bernier left the ice first at the morning skate, and first after the game as Bobby Ryan, Saku Koivu, and Corey Perry all beat him to seal the victory. Jonathan Quick failed to get a save in a shootout last week, and epically smashed his stick in frustration. Bernier has had a terrific season, but he was unable to get the stops in the shootout, and allowed 3 goals on 22 shots.

The Kings continued to get pucks to the net as they outshot the Ducks by a wide margin, 38 to 22. Oftentimes the games that the Kings shoot around 40 times per game, they lose 1-0 to a hot goaltender. But Anaheim got their 3 goals from Kyle Palmieri, Corey Perry, and Matt Belesky, and the Ducks held on to win.

The game was hard fought from the start, as it saw 5 Kings and Ducks in the penalty box in the first period. Each team managed a powerplay goal and were around 35 hits for the game apiece. The intensity on the ice validated the rivalry from these two teams, and the Kings will try to even up the Series at home on Saturday.

The Ducks are sitting atop the division with 57 points, still5 behind Chicago for the number 1 seed. And the Kings had a big opportunity to climb towards the division lead, and put space between themselves and the 8th spot. But after the shootout loss the 4th place Kings are 9 points back of Anaheim, and 5 points clear of the 8th and final playoff spot.

Mar 5, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) celebrates a goal in the first period against the St. Louis Blues at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Visiting the White House has become a tradition when a team wins a championship in this country. He may not be born in the US, but star Slovenian center Anze Kopitar has no reservations about what it means. Kopitar tweeted out

Meeting the most powerful man in the world today… #heartbeatisabithigher

— Anze Kopitar (@AnzeKopitar) March 26, 2013

The Kings aren’t the only visitors today, as the Kings brothers in ownership and 2012 champions are in on the action today as well. The LA Galaxy and Kings are both owned by AEG, and still will be for the foreseeable future since AEG was taken down for auction a few weeks ago.

It is convenient, opportunistic, and unusual that both teams will make the visit together. The modern tradition of visiting the White House after championships started while Ronald Reagan was in office. The former sports radio announcer and actor was a sports fanatic. There is no word if any of the Kings or Galaxy are planning to keep up a more recent tradition of not visiting the White House for political reasons, like goaltender Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins. The odds were Landon Donovan was on track for that distinction, but he (at least temporarily) ended his sabbatical to make the trip. Dustin Penner addressed the decisive issue head on

After careful consideration I’ve decided not to visit the White House today for political reasons LOL JK I’m not an idiot!Free trip? I’m in!

— Dustin Penner (@Dustinpenner25) March 26, 2013

For two teams as big as a hockey and soccer club, they are percentage-wise the fewest number of Americans to visit the White House. Without double checking my math, there are more Slovenians, Russians, Brazilians, Canadians, and Mexicans combined than Americans. That shouldn’t interrupt the joyful proceedings. It’s the most powerful man in the world as Kopitar pointed out. Meeting him is pretty honorable and noteworthy regardless of the player’s political affiliations.

Who would be the most famous man in the room is unlikely to attend the visit. PSG midfielder David Beckham isn’t going to sign autographs for the President, be draped in a British flag, or bring the guards from outside Buckingham Palace with him.

If given the time or opportunity to speak with the President it would be difficult to run out of questions, but in the event they get stuck, they could always ask the President about how is NCAA bracket is doing.