Kings Look Up

Eric Gazin
Dec 29, 2000

The L.A. Kings are one of those teams that flounder around in the standings, looking confused one night, and on the verge of greatness on other nights. Thursday's game against the St. Louis Blues might have been an off game for the Blues, but the torn and tattered Kings, behind unknown goalie Steve Passmore, defied all odds and pounded the Blues for three periods and won 5-2, snapping a 11 game unbeaten streak for the Blues and their own 5 game losing streak.

Blues goaltender Roman Turek let in a couple of soft goals, but all 4 Kings lines played the body and manhandled the Blues most of the night, egging them into retaliatory penalties after good hits and delayed penalties about to be called on the Kings. When Scott Thomas scores a goal, you know the Kings are on a roll, with the career minor leaguer getting his first NHL goal since December 26, 1993!

Let's start with the action of the night. In the second period, Reed Low and Stu Grimson squared off, with the rookie Low staying with Grimson in their battle along the boards. Grimson got a hand free and landed some short shots on Low, not too much damage before it was broken up.

The third period got interesting again for Grimson. With about 4 minutes left, Grimson was about to get a minor penalty when Reid Simpson landed a clear shot on Grimson in retaliation. I could tell Grimson was more than happy for things to get evened up, and nothing else happened. Stupid play by Simpson, with the Blues down already 5-2 late in the game.

With about a minute and a half left, both players came out of the box and headed towards the bench. There was a 4-3 power play for the Blues at this point. Grimson gestured away from the play to Simpson, and it was another squaring off for the two heavy weights. This fight lasted maybe 3 seconds. In the biggest swing I have seen in years, Grimson landed his first haymaker with Simpson's nose and dropped him like a first round Holyfield TKO against a human punching bag. Simpson was down a minute and had to be helped off the ice. Couldn't help but notice the ever spastic Jamal Mayers on the bench vowing revenge, but he never got the chance (he did have a great goal on a one timer earlier as well as a fight with Ian Laperriere).

Cameras zoomed in on a dazed and confused Simpson with his bloodied nose and face. At 36, Grimson again showed he is a much-feared enforcer who the younger guys need to get their battle scars challenging, similar to all the young enforcers who think they can make a name for themselves going a round with Bob Probert.

Grimson is getting some serious ice time on the King's fourth line and it is well deserved, with Grimson fighting for loose pucks and fore-checking well along the boards. He even has a few goals already this season. Murray has not hesitated to use Grimson in regular shifts late in close games as well, the ultimate compliment to an enforcer with limited offensive ability. He laid out an irritated Owen Nolan last game in L.A. too, with Nolan getting up and pointing over to Grimson in the penalty boxing and mouthing to him "You're F***ing Dead!"

Kings are without Palffy, Glen Murray, Stephane Fiset, and Craig Johnson, and now after St. Louis get to face Dallas, Colorado and Detroit in their next three games. Usually, they rise to the occasion against the league's powerhouses, but getting a win in 1out of 3 will be a victory for team that is still trying to decide if they want to do better than limp in to the playoffs in the 8th spot or make a run for a better position.

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