Los Angeles Kings: Team Wins on Bob Miller’s Last Home Game

Bob Miller is one of the most inspirational voices in sports. Up there with the likes of Vin Scully, how did the Los Angeles Kings send Miller off?

In front of a sold-out crowd, the Los Angeles Kings gave their long-time play-by-play announcer Bob Miller a rousing send-off, in his last home game with a 3-2 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Miller announced in early march that due to health setbacks and age he was going to retire and call the last two Kings games of this season. For his last home game, it was a festive mood, as a fan fest outside Staples Center gave Kings fans a chance to thank Miller by writing thank you notes on a large canvas.

Inside Staples Center every chair had a “Thank You, Bob” t-shirt along with a commemorative poster with a message from Miller himself.  Pre-game and in-game videos honored Miller’s 44 years of excellent broadcasting and exposing Southern California to professional hockey and the NHL.

Luminaries from the broadcasting world and celebrity Kings fans lent their voice to video tributes.  Members of the Kings family also praised Miller in video tributes including, “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky, Kings President and former player Luc Robitaille, and current Kings forward Dustin Brown.

While the festivities were going on Miller still had to call the game gainst the Blackhawks, and what a thrilling game Miller was given.  Much like their previous playoff meetings the Kings and Blackhawks went back and forth as if it was a Game 7.

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With just fifty-five seconds down 2-1, the Kings emptied their net and found themselves on a rush toward the Blackhawks goal when Brown redirected an Anze Kopitar pass into the net to tie the game 2-all.

In overtime, the Kings got the winning goal when Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty were on a 2 on 1 break and Doughty redirected a Carter pass into the Blackhawks goal.  While folks at phone got to hear Miller’s call on television, the fans at Staples Center saw Miller’s enthusiastic reaction on the stadium Jumbotron.

With the win, Miller stepped down on the Staples Center ice and gave a heartfelt thank you to the fans closing out his tenure on home ice.  Miller still has one more game left as he will call the Kings season finale on the road against the Anaheim Ducks.

For many Kings fans and Southern California native, Bob Miller is the soundtrack to their hockey fandom.  It is bittersweet that he won’t be calling anymore Kings games, but it is great to know that he is going out on his own terms.

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Miller’s legacy is secure and for Kings fans knowing he called not one but two Stanley Cup championship teams were one of the greatest thrills.  His voice lives on in all who can share the memories of his career.