10 Reasons Why the Kings Beat the Red Wings

Eric Gazin
Apr 24, 2001

How often have any of you met an L.A. King's fan? As rare a species as we are in L.A., think of all those times the Kings pay a visit to your home arena. The few that are L.A. transplants might be bold enough to dust off their old purple and gold jersey from the Triple Crown Line days of Dionne/Taylor/Simmer, but you won't hear a peep out of them. Here is a prediction that this is about to change.

Beating the HockeyTown Dynasty coached by Scotty Bowman, a man revered as the icon he is, makes people wake up. I just caught Barry Melrose and Ray Ferraro writing the Kings off already on some post game wrap up, as if the significance of beating the Wings was an anomaly. Well, I have composed a "Top 10 list" of how it happened, some reasons are glaringly obvious, others a bit more controversial and opinionated.

1. The Law of Averages. The Kings had lost 13 playoff games in a row. As hard it is to win 13 in a row, no team who makes the playoffs is that bad to continually loose every darn playoff game.
2. Jere Karalahti. This is a guy who had to wait months because of past drug use to even enter the U.S. last season. He was so lackluster that he was a healthy scratch for 8 games during the season. This guy out- played all other defensemen along the boards, hitting and pinning with a reckless abandon. By the way, his interference penalty in Game 5 was a seriously bad call.
3. Scott Thomas (hockeyfights.com profile). I had to go to ESPN to even get a profile on this guy, as the Kings official website hasn't found itself fit to include some info on the guy who broke an "0 for 50" playoff power play drought. When he scored for the Kings last December, it was his first NHL goal in 7 years. His power play goal in Game 4 was the start of the amazing comeback win.
4. The Aged Detroit Defensemen. This is one of those obvious things. Chris Chelios, Todd Gill, Steve Duschene and Larry Murphy showed that experience cannot always overcome speed and skill. When the Kings had momentum, these guys were no where to be found taking the body.
5. Red Wing Injuries to Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman. Another obvious reason why the Kings won the series. Yzerman was needed in Game 4 to win some of those faceoffs when the Kings scored the 3 late goals. As deep as the Red Wings were, you don't replace 2 future Hall of Famers.
6. Red Wing Overconfidence. Was there any doubt among the Wings that they might loose to the boys from "La-La Land?" I do not care what Bowman or other players said about the challenge in playing the Kings, that was just to avoid making comments that would end up as motivational items on the opposing team's chalkboard. The Wings knew how to cream the Kings when it counted - during Playoff time. Game 5 in Detroit showed that they thought that by showing up they could cruise on their 20+ unbeaten streak at home. Big mistake.
7. King's Fans. Yes, that is not an oxymoron. The crowd helped the Kings win all 3 games on home ice. Even with the Kings trailing 2-1 in the second period in Game 6 and being badly outplayed by the Wings, they kept the team in it. I started by saying that there weren't many Kings' fans anywhere, but those who are fans have to be that much more vocal and enthusiastic.
8. Bryan Smolinski shutting down Sergei Federov. Federov needed to step up and shake loose the King's centerman. He didn't. Much to Anna K's disappointment, Federov did not live up to his ability. How much of the nullification should go to Smolinski can be argued, but the results speak volumes on the defensive commitment he made.
9. Andy Murray. Kings' GM Dave Taylor hired a guy with no NHL head coaching experience who was coaching his son's private high school hockey team in Minnesota. He posts back to back 90 point seasons the last 2 years and shows he is a master motivator. I have seen a number of coaches shuffle through L.A., but Murray's motivational skills and work ethic rubbed off on his mostly playoff unproven team. His line shuffling, playing of unproven players, such as Scott Thomas on the power play, and getting Grimson into 5/6 games shows he is a winner. Look for great things from this guy over the next decade in L.A. or elsewhere.
10. Adam Deadmarsh (hockeyfights.com profile). The guy is simply a winner. How could the Avs trade this guy? As much as I loved watching Rob Blake's hard shot from the blue line on the power plays, the Kings had no one with Deadmarsh's grit and drive to win. His presence and fear he brought to the Wings was the deciding factor, as others fed off his inspired play.

Will the Kings be able to beat Colorado? I predict the Kings win it in 6. I'll either look like a genius or go down in flames, much like the team.

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