TRH GAMEDAY 81 – CALGARY FLAMES: Elimination Game
The LA Kings find themselves in a position they’re pretty familiar with: A must-win game.
They no longer control their own destiny, but the Kings can put a little heat on the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets tonight with a win in regulation. Granted, that may not seem like the easiest task after that debacle against the Edmonton Oilers.
As Homer Simpson once said: “I like those odds.”
Rather than dwell on the negative aspects, let’s instead focus on the positives. The Kings have gone 8-2 in their past 10 elimination games, and both of the losses occurred in overtime. Each of the 10 games took place in the playoffs against some of the best teams in the NHL. Tonight, they only need to beat the Flames (and hope that Reto Berra and the Colorado Avalanche can upset the Jets).
So let’s take a look back at each of those 10 elimination games in chronological order (this is the first regular season elimination game during that span), starting with the oldest.
Can this team pull off another seemingly impossible comeback to make the playoffs? Well, history says they won’t go quietly.
10. Game 6 vs. San Jose Sharks
April 25, 2011
Kings lose 4-3 OT
The Kings 2010-11 season ended without Anze Kopitar in the lineup, but they still gave the Stanley Cup-contending San Jose Sharks all they could handle in a hard-fought six game series. Trevor Lewis tied the game with a powerplay goal (seriously) midway through the third period. The score remained 3-3 through regulation, which set up the memorable finish in overtime.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
The buttslide heard round the world.
9. Game 7 vs. San Jose Sharks
May 28, 2013
Kings win 2-1
The Kings cruised their way to a Stanley Cup win in 2012, which meant it would take over two years for them to face another elimination game. Once again, it was against the Sharks. It was a back-and-forth series that saw the home team win every game. Surprise: Justin Williams ended the series.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
Mr. Game 7 forever.
8. Game 5 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
June 8, 2013
Kings lose 4-3 2OT
The Kings bid to win back-to-back Stanley Cup Championship fell short as they were ousted by the eventual champs, the Chicago Blackhawks. Mike Richards tied the game in the waning moments of regulation, but Patrick Kane completed his hat trick in double overtime to end the Kings season.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
Ugh Patrick Kane is too good to hate.
7. Game 4 vs. San Jose Sharks
April 24, 2014
Kings win 6-3
Down 3-0 in the series, the Kings needed any glimmer of hope to attempt to stage a historic comeback against the Sharks. The Kings took the lead late in the second period and never looked back. And 34 seconds into the third period, Marian Gaborik made it 5-2 to put the game out of reach.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
Uh oh, Sharks…
6. Game 5 vs. San Jose Sharks
April 26, 2014
Kings win 3-0
Winning one at home was great, but could the Kings gain any momentum on the road? Yes, yes they could. Tyler Toffoli opened the scoring and Jonathan Quick made 21 saves in the shutout win.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
UH OH, SHARKS…
5. Game 6 vs. San Jose Sharks
April 28, 2014
Kings win 4-1
The Sharks were now in full-on panic mode. They benched starting goaltender Antti Niemi and went with unproven rookie Alex Stalock. To be fair, Stalock played well, but the Sharks didn’t look like themselves, and it only took one gentle nudge to push them over the edge. That nudge came in the form of yet another big goal by Williams to put the Kings ahead with eight minutes remaining in the game. …the Sharks didn’t seem to like that the goal counted if I recall correctly.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
UH OH, SHARKS!!!
4. Game 7 vs. San Jose Sharks
April 30, 2014
Kings win 5-1
#ReverseSweep
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
#ItWas3toNothing
3. Game 6 vs. Anaheim Ducks
May 14, 2014
Kings win 2-1
The Kings had their backs against the wall. And it didn’t help that they were playing the best goalie that Darryl Sutter had ever seen. Somehow, Trevor Lewis was able to solve John Gibson and send the series to a Game 7.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
#GibbyTime
2. Game 7 vs. Anaheim Ducks
May 16, 2014
Kings win 6-2
The biggest game in the history of the Freeway Face-Off rivalry wasn’t even close. The Kings scored three goals in the first period and chased Gibson out of the net in the process. They extended that lead to 5-0 late in the second period and ran out the clock the rest of the way.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
I can’t begin to describe how much joy this picture brings me.
1. Game 7 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
June 1, 2014
Kings win 5-4 OT
The rematch of the previous year’s Western Conference Final was arguably the greatest series that the Kings had ever been apart of. Down 3-1 in the series, the Hawks rallied to win Games 5 and 6 to set up the epic seventh game. The Kings were playing catch up all night. They never led in regulation, but were able to come back to tie the game on three separate occasions and send it to overtime. Just under six minutes into the extra frame, Alec Martinez fired a shot that somehow found its way past Corey Crawford to send the Kings to Stanley Cup Final.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
Drew Doughty: Future Norris Trophy Winner
TRH TENDER SWIPE TO VICTORY MATCHUP™
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