2014: A Year Of Infamy For The Los Angeles Kings

1  –  The Coors Light Stadium Series outdoor game – Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium – January 25, 2014

This is a game that most Kings fans would like to forget.  The Kings were sluggish and in full swing of their scoring (and winning) slump.  The normally reliable Anze Kopitar couldn’t even score on a penalty shot and the Kings were embarrassed 3-0 by the rival Pacific Division leading Anaheim Ducks.  Still I felt this game was worth mentioning for two very important reasons.

Reason 1 – Its historical value as this was the first official NHL regular season outdoor game ever played in California.  54,099 fans filled up the iconic Dodger Stadium while millions tuned in around the world to watch the Freeway Series (and the band KISS) like they have never seen them before.

Reason 2* – This game was the greatest trade in the history of the known universe (yes, even beating the trade of Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles) as the savvy general manager (or more properly named “The Architect”) of the Kings Dean Lombardi, traded a loss in this historical outdoor game to the Duck’s GM Bob Murray for a playoff series win against the Ducks and for the 2 added draft picks of having the win be on the road in Anaheim and in a game 7! Brilliant!

*Okay, reason number 2 never existed in reality as no trade or deal was ever made but as a fellow Kings fan, it is fun to pretend that there was. Plus it helps this game’s loss sting a little bit less… but just a little.