“Game 7, must win.”
~Jake Muzzin, before Kings/Flames (LA Kings Insider)
Five points behind the surprising Calgary Flames for the West’s last playoff berth, would the Los Angeles Kings come out Thursday night with that familiar “Game 7” desperation?
Uh, yes.
Let’s do this again some time … pic.twitter.com/lBOtDHwZKK
— Travis Yost (@TravisHeHateMe) February 13, 2015
The rout commenced with Kings Legends Night honoree Barry Melrose insulting the team lauding him, when he called the Kings and the Flames “two of the most overachieving teams in the NHL.”
Look, I love the underdog. As steeped in stats and spreadsheets as I am, I always root for Rocky Rudy Hoosiers. Did you know the Americans were outshot 39-16 by the Russians in the “Miracle on Ice”?
But Los Angeles and Calgary are not peas in a pod, and LA emphasized that…um, emphatically:
@Sheng_Peng so did the Kings get more chances than the Flames had shots at ES?
— Chris Jenkins (@anexanhume) February 13, 2015
Kris Russell was on the ice for 42 shot-attempts against at evens. Managed a CA60 of 125.7. League avg is ~53 at ES and ~95 down a man.
— Domenic Galamini (@MimicoHero) February 13, 2015
#That70sFam RIP Tanner starred:
#That70sFam pic.twitter.com/w2j5qflXA9
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 13, 2015
Jordan “Rob Blake” Nolan slapped a breathing room third period strike (and eventual GWG), Jonas Hiller’s only serious mistake in an otherwise outstanding performance. Jeff Carter was on the ice for 12 of LA’s 20 overall chances and had SIX scoring chances for himself; he missed all of them but managed three assists. Dwight King sported a Dwight King hat trick—a goal, an assist, and a meme-worthy face:
And Tyler Toffoli! He paced the Kings with a +25 Corsi—for further illustration of Calgary’s woes, David Jones’s +0 topped his team—and of course, notched his first career hat trick.
Recap of the #LAKings game so far. pic.twitter.com/u56oWC4MSR
— THX BUD (@thxbud) February 13, 2015
Los Angeles overcame a controversial Flames goal and subsequent Jonathan Quick freakout…
GIF lolol quick pic.twitter.com/efk8e6oxQC
— Steph (@myregularface) February 13, 2015
Every single day, Jonathan Quick is responsible for the deforestation of 30 acres of tropical rainforest
— Jewels frm the Crown (@JFTC_Kings) February 13, 2015
…and that was really about the extent of Calgary’s resistance.
Love you, Barry, but there was just one overachieving squad at Staples tonight. Leave it to Darryl Sutter to have the last laugh:
@dightkwing #sutterbest pic.twitter.com/AG38xbqWz8
— Andrew Leafman (@andrewleafman) February 13, 2015
WELCOME BACK TO LA JONAS pic.twitter.com/Cx4lgmfRUY
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 13, 2015
(Disclaimer: Like Darryl (I think), I was just poking fun at the Mulleted One. You look great, Barry! But I’m glad he didn’t coach the Kings for long. Check out what an anonymous Kings player had to say about Melrose’s 1995 firing.)