Pregame reading: a look at how ex-Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier is doing

Waiting for the Kings game to start today in Carolina? Here’s a good look at the buzz in Toronto created by the Maple Leafs’ fine start, which has been sparked by former Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier. Here’s the link to the story in the Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/mirtle-bernier-buzz-is-growing-in-toronto/article14825783/

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Darryl Sutter talks about early-season drama and Las Vegas oddsmakers

The Kings split the first two games of the 2013-14 season, which wasn’t great but certainly not bad considering the distance they traveled to Minnesota and Winnipeg to play on consecutive nights to start the campaign. Kings coach Darryl Sutter fielded a couple of questions Sunday about whether the results of early-season games, good or bad, tend to be overblown by overeager fans, reporters and other outsiders.

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Wait … what? Why are they measuring Marty McSorley’s stick? Oh, noooooo

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Kings’ trade for Wayne Gretzky …

The only thing the Great One couldn’t do after the Kings acquired him from Edmonton was to bring the Stanley Cup to Los Angeles. He came close once, leading the Kings to the 1993 Final with a Game 7 for the ages in a Western Conference finals victory over the Maple Leafs in Toronto. The Kings went on to win Game 1 of the Final over the Canadiens in Montreal. They led the Canadiens by a goal in the closing moments of Game 2 and it was possible to imagine the victory parade and the Cup in downtown L.A. in a few days.

Suddenly, there was a whistle and a the daydream turned into a nightmare for Kings fans. Kings defenseman Marty McSorley was caught playing with an illegal curve on his stick, a minor penalty. The Canadiens scored on the ensuing power play to send the game to overtime, where they won 3-2. Montreal then won Games 3 and 4 at the Forum and then clinched the Cup with a 4-1 win at the other Forum in Game 5.

It was the last Stanley Cup victory for a Canadian team and began the Curse of Marty McSorley for the Kings. Actually, the Kings put an end to the Curse with their Cup victory in 2012. Canadian fans are still waiting for another Cup, which should no doubt make Kings fans smile when they think back to what might have been in Game 2 on June 3, 1993.

 

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One Forum fan in 1988-89: ‘Why isn’t Gretzky starting? Is that coach crazy?’

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Kings’ trade for Wayne Gretzky …

Not everyone who showed up to see the Great One at the Forum during the 1988-89 season was hockey fan. Quite a few couldn’t tell the difference between the blue line and the red line, but that certainly didn’t dampen their enthusiasm for Gretzky’s arrival in a blockbuster deal that made the Kings the hottest ticket in Los Angeles.

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How Wayne Gretzky nearly got me killed one day while vacationing in Oregon

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Kings’ trade for Wayne Gretzky …

Twenty-five years ago, Aug. 9, 1988, I was on vacation on the Oregon Coast. I was probably running on the beach and about to jump in the ocean for a swim when the Kings’ trade for Wayne Gretzky was announced. The tears probably were rolling down Gretzky’s cheeks during his Edmonton press conference when I dived into the water. I was oblivious. I didn’t have a cell phone. No one I knew did. I didn’t know about the Internet. Email was  vague concept in 1988. I wasn’t glued to SportsCenter while on vacation.

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Jonathan Quick of the Kings is Yahoo! Sports’ top goaltender in the world

It’s all subjective, of course, but the Kings’ Jonathan Quick was Yahoo! Sports pick as the top goaltender in the world. The Puck Daddy blog ranked the top goalies and Quick emerged as the best. Who are we to argue? Here are the site’s comments:

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Cup odds aren’t too shabby for Kings

Here are the latest odds to win the Stanley Cup, courtesy Bovada.com:

Chicago Blackhawks: 6-1
Pittsburgh Penguins: 13-2
Boston Bruins: 10-1
Los Angeles Kings: 12-1
St. Louis Blues: 12-1
Detroit Red Wings: 16-1
Vancouver Canucks: 16-1
San Jose Sharks: 18-1
Edmonton Oilers: 20-1
Minnesota Wild: 20-1
New York Rangers: 20-1
Anaheim Ducks: 22-1
Montreal Canadiens: 25-1
Toronto Maple Leafs: 25-1
Washington Capitals: 25-1
Philadelphia Flyers: 28-1
New York Islanders: 33-1
Ottawa Senators: 33-1
Carolina Hurricanes: 40-1
Colorado Avalanche: 40-1
Columbus Blue Jackets: 40-1
Dallas Stars: 40-1
New Jersey Devils: 40-1
Nashville Predators: 50-1
Tampa Bay Lightning: 50-1
Winnipeg Jets: 50-1
Phoenix Coyotes: 66-1
Buffalo Sabres: 100-1
Calgary Flames: 100-1
Florida Panthers: 150-1

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