It is the eve of the very first Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings seven-game playoff series. It's a match-up 20 years in the making. It's hard to believe that two clubs, separated by mere miles, have never met in the postseason.
This has been an amazing playoff season. One that won't soon be replicated, but I have to believe that this series will be one that we won't soon forget.
The Ducks were once known as the joke in Orange County. The Kings, pardon the pun, ruled hockey in California for decades. When they traded for Wayne Gretzky in 1988 it changed the landscape of the NHL and turned the hockey world on it's head.
Soon hockey blossomed in warm weather states with teams from California, Texas and Florida all having won Stanley Cups while hockey rich Canada looks back fondly on the Habs '93 Cup...which ironically enough came against a Gretzky led Kings team.
In 2007, the Ducks thumbed their noses at the Kings by skating with the Cup. The first in California history. Five year later it was L.A.'s turn to sip from Lord Stanley's chalice. Since Dustin Brown hoisted the Cup the rivalry has been different.
How you ask? Well, it has matured. The fan bases have matured and the rivalry has grown in both intensity and ferocity. Now this? This is going to be fun.
I have been on both sides of the fence. When I first relocated from the east coast to Southern California the Kings and the Great Western Forum were the only show in town. No Ducks, no Sharks, no Twitter, no Facebook and no internet. I followed the NJ Devils through newspaper box scores, but I watched every Kings game. In truth there was a time when I loved the Kings and cheered foe them passionately. I moved out here the summer of the Wayne Gretzky trade and the team was fun to watch and I loved it.
Then the Great One left and the magic was gone for me.
Fast forward to today....I have grown to love the Ducks and revile the Kings. I have waited for this series to happen and now it is.
As far as this series goes... It's going to be a matter of the Ducks offense versus the Kings defense and Jonathan Quick. The Ducks have an issue in net. Who do you start in net? Freddie Andersen (pulled twice vs. Dallas) or Jonas Hiller (inconsistent and has a tendency to give up cotton ball goals...soft)? Even though Andersen started all six games he didn't win 14 in a row at one point during the regular season as Jonas did. Although, that seems like 100 years ago, doesn't it?
Based on that alone, I think the Kings will have a decided edge in this series. Defense and goaltending win Stanley Cups and that is how L.A. makes their living.
That said.....the Ducks went 4-0-1 against L.A. during the regular season. The only loss came in an epic 8-9 round shootout. No shootouts in postseason play. Anaheim is a scoring machine and they have proven time and time again that even when they are down...they are NEVER out. Am I right Dallas? I guess San Jose can say the same thing.
Both clubs had a mediocre power play during the regular season, but Anaheim did show some life in the first round. Rookie Pat Maroon has six power play points and has been a big factor is the Ducks turnaround with the man advantage.
Personally, I think you have to throw everything out the window in this series. The reality is that is will be physical. it will be tight and it will come down to who wants it more. Sounds cliche and it is but it's the truth.
Soooooooo, what's my prediction?
I'm going against the grain with this one. Everybody will be picking the Kings based on the momentum of a miraculous 0-3 comeback. I still think Anaheim is on the verge of something special and beating the Kings will be a part of that.
That's why I'm picking Ducks in 7 very bloody games.
Thanks for reading!