Ask any Kings fan what happened on Monday, June 11, 2012. It is the day when fans reached the ultimate hockey high – our beloved team had over all obstacles and proved every naysayer wrong. After 45 agonizing years, the Kings skated onto the ice to hoist up the venerated Lord Stanley’s Cup. I still get chills just thinking about it.
On Saturday, January 19, 2013, the Championship banner was raised in the Staples Center – another high for fans. We cheered, we teared up. We grieved when the voice of the Kings former PA announcer, David Courtney, announced the champions. Courtney passed away in November. Due to the lockout, he was unable to see the banner raised, but his voice was used during the ceremony.
(Mayor’s Manor)
All of these things brought fans together to experience the ultimate rush.
Then the Kings played their opener. I suppose it could’ve been more embarrassing – though I’m not sure how. It was, however, forgivable. They have struggled in the past to win noon home games, so it wasn’t a shock. Jonathan Quick was rusty after recovering from back surgery, and a couple of key players were unable to start (Anze Kopitar and Willie Mitchell).
The Kings fell 5 -2 to the Edmonton Oilers. Fans rationalized it away as a Stanley Cup Hangover. Addicts always have an excuse ready.
The world would right itself. We were certain. The team was going on the road, and they were last season’s road warriors. How could they lose? 3-1 to the Colorado Avalanche, that’s how. Surely they would get the next one, right? After a game against the Edmonton Oilers that was more of a circus than a game, with 36 minutes of penalties called in the first period, they stunned fans by losing their one-goal lead with 4 seconds left in the game! 1:21 into overtime, the Kings were called out for too many men on ice, thus hammering the final nail into the coffin. That come down lasted a full 24 hours.
The reader may recall that the Kings made it to the Stanley Cup Finals once before. HIGH. And lost. LOW.
These losses are affecting my home life. My children are disappointed and unhappy. Every time my boyfriend says he is sorry that they lost again, I get angry and don’t want him near me. I’ll probably dump him the next time the Kings lose.
Do fans really expect the Kings to be the championship team we saw in June? The guys barely eked their way to the playoffs as it was. But once they made it, they pulled it together and dominated every single team. They gave fans the worst thing in the world – hope. So, yes, we expect them to do it again. Every. Dang. Loss. We are still looking for our next high – and we won’t be satisfied until that itch for the ultimate high is satiated again.
The Kings played one of their rivals last night, the Phoenix Coyotes. After an emotional game played by something that somewhat resembled that championship team, and after a bad call disallowing a Coyotes goal, they finally emerged victorious, earning their first win of the season. A win against a team Kings fans hate? What an incredible high.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The next game will take place on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks, who will surely be seeking revenge after being eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by LA last summer. The Kings can’t let the fans down. Insert the needle. We need our next high. We need another win.
The worst part is that we aren’t even trying to quit.
Lisa Dancel
Latest posts by Lisa Dancel (see all)
- The Makings of an LA King - August 13, 2013
- Dustin Brown Signs on for Extended Stay in Los Angeles - July 19, 2013
- Penner to Anaheim, Rob Blake Back In LA - July 18, 2013
