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The Los Angeles Kings have been around for 45 years without doing hardly anything to make a lasting impression in the hockey culture. (Except trade for Wayne Gretzky, 24 years ago.) But they're getting noticed now. They beat the Vancouver Canucks 1-0 tonight to take a 3-0 lead in the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs. Vancouver had the best record in the league during the season. The Kings had the worst of any team in the West to make the playoffs. But these things happen, thankfully, in sports.
The Kings are a maturing team that could be jelling at the right time, and they have a hot goaltender. Things could get really interesting around here if the Kings sweep into the next round with another win at Staples Center on Wednesday night. Or if they hang on to advance at all. The few times the Kings have gone far in the playoffs, LA really took notice. As it was, Kobe Bryant was prominently in attendance tonight.
Sports notes for Sunday:
- Kobe missed his fifth straight game for the Lakers with a shin injury, but they beat the Mavericks 112-108 in overtime.
- Vin Scully returned to the Dodgers TV booth to call Sunday's win over the Padres (and a triple play on a bunt.) They are 9-1 to open the season, feasting on the Padres and Pirates.
LA Kings website photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty Images
