Scott Hartnell Does Not Like Jordan Nolan

((HT: NESN/647 Hockey Vids))

Scott Hartnell is no fan of Jordan Nolan and the LA Kings in their early contest today with Columbus...

The HQ will stipulate that Nolan is a pest. It is something he is very good at...

Like today...
Watch for it...


The HQ suspects there may be a talking-to from Messrs. Pronger and Shanahan for both Nolan and Hartnell.
But, regardless of the numbers, stick swinging is too dangerous at any moment...

Last thing we need is another one is these incidents...

When Anchors Lose Bets

((HT: KABC-TV))

The local ABC anchors in New York and Los Angeles had a Stanley Cup bet and WABC-TV anchor Rob Powers lost to Rob Fukuzaki- which meant he had to wear a Kings sweater in New York City

Your evidence

Chris Sutter Gets His Postgame Interview

((HT: NHL on NBCSN))

The HQ came across a great article during our Stanley Cup Final coverage that Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star wrote about LA Kings head coach Darryl Sutter and just how much we don't know about him.

We all see the Popovichian-Belichickian press conference glibness which is good for quick quotes and a laugh. But Arthur let us in on the huge heart the coach has for family and for others- specifically those who have Down's Syndrome like his son Chris.

But Chris is family to the Kings players and he was a part of Anze Kopitar's post-game interview last night...

As he should...


Well said, young man, well said...

Your End of Hockey Playoff Montages: Love These Videos

((ht: cbssports.com))

For whatever reason, one of the things that separates hockey coverage from other sports seems to be the video montages. And they separate even further with the American and the Canadian versions of said montages.

The reason we bring this up is because this is a snapshot of what we do for a living. We've done countless video highlight montages like this and to get them right is not nearly as easy as you'd think.

With that in mind we offer you montages done by both NBC Sports and the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Company) after last nights Stanley Cup Finals ended with a Los Angeles Kings win.

In this corner, NBC. NBC does a great job with their Hockey coverage and their lead announcer, Mike "Doc" Emrick is the best play-by-play guy in Sports today.

NBC put together their playoff wrap video using an excerpt from a Queen/David Bowie collaboration from the 1980's. "Under Pressure". And they mixed it with game highlights, cutaways and a ton of natural sound/broadcast sound.

It's very well produced and edited:



Now check out what the CBC did. Mind you, this is the end of their 60-plus year run televising the game.

Their montages have always been stellar, a mix of the current with an homage to hockey's past and history.

This is what you should consider a sendoff as much as a look back. We will miss the CBC and we will miss their production of this style video. Consider it a step above what NBC did and does, you know, next level stuff.

As a Video Producer by trade, we admire the editing, the research, the pacing and storytelling. And the music "Superstar", not as well known, but totally fits the story being told.

Enjoy the video and tell us what you think. Do you agree with our assessment? Or disagree....

ICYMI: The LA Kings Might Have Won The Stanley Cup in 2 OT's

((ht: nhl.com))

I'm quite honestly surprised Brother Jon hasn't gushed all over this story...but then again as a life-long, devoted Kings fan, he may still be celebrating.

The Los Angeles Kings won their 2nd Stanley Cup Title in 3-years Friday night with a 3-2 win in Double Overtime over the New York Rangers, the game was played in L.A.

The win gave the Kings a 4-1 series win over the Rangers and while it looked on the surface like a Kings runaway, the series was much closer than it looked.

Defenseman Alec Martinez dropped in a rebounded shot at the 14:43 mark of the 2nd OT and becomes a hero in NHL annals. It was Martinez, who had an overtime game winner in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals vs. the Chicago Blackhawks.

Needless to say, without Martinez's heroics, we may not be having this conversation.

The Kings Justin Williams walked away with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP and it was well deserved,

Your highlights from NHL.com:



UPDATE: Yes, Brother Jon was celebrating quite well...

Hockey Night Montage for Game 5 Gives Us The Who

((HT: Tim Thompson))

If this is the last "Hockey Night in Canada" montage in the history of CBC's coverage, Tim Thompson was all over it for the four-billionth time. His work is top-notch and lends itself to the story-telling that the game itself gives us night in and night out.

This time, it was The Who and it made us a little dusty.
When you see a particular edit, you'll know why...


The HQ only hopes that Sportsnet finds a place for Thompson in their next decade of coverage...

Stanley Cup Final Heads Back to Los Angeles

((HT: NHL on NBCSN/Sportsnet))

And the New York Rangers have Henrik Lundqvist to thank- considering he had to stand on his head for the entire third period in a 2-1 survival against the Los Angeles Kings.

Curtis Joseph talks about King Henrik and his 40 saves
And for those of you who want to be readily awake now, here's the highlights with Doc, Edzo, and Pierre...

Things You Can't Unsee: LA Kings Rap for da Stanley Cup

((ht: puckdaddy))

Ok. So, the good news about the video at the bottom of this story and in the title is that no actual Los Angeles Kings players sang...or rapped in it.

Though it might have helped....

We aren't sure why but pretty much every attempt at a music video for a championship sports team that we can think of has sucked.

And this one certainly does that.

The performer--an Alexandra Case. We suspect you've never heard of her.

There may be a reason for that.

Behold the LA Kings Rap for da Stanley Cup and cross your fingers it doesn't become the teams anthem as they eventually close out the New York Rangers and win the Cup.

Jeff Carter Plays "Beat The Clock"

((HT: NHL on NBCSN))

It was one that Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist should have kept in the glove, but it entered the net with less than a second to go in the first.

The only .7 of a second that the Kings had led in regulation in the Stanley Cup Final before the second period began...

ICYMI: LA Kings win Gm 2 of Stanley Cup Finals...In 2 OT's

((ht: nhl.com))

Okay...if you love sports, there is no excuse for watching the Stanley Cup Finals.

There is nothing more intense, more exciting, more fun to watch. And yes, that includes the NBA where they whine about no air conditioning.

Late Saturday night, the Finals were as exciting an event as you'll ever see after the Los Angeles Kings came back from a 2 goal deficit for the second game in a row to beat the New York Rangers 5-4 halfway through the 2nd Overtime period.

Dustin Brown, the Kings captain, was Saturday nights hero after he deflected in a shot at the 10:26 mark of the 2nd overtime period.

This was after Kings forward Marian Gaborik tied the game just 7 and a half minutes into the 3rd period at 4.

Game 3 will be Monday night in what will undoubtedly be a raucous Madison Square Garden in New York City.

If you have the time, it's well worth watching.

Here's your Game 2 highlights from NHL.com:

Mr. Game 7 Takes Game One

((HT: NHL on NBC))

The Los Angeles Kings gave up ANOTHER two-goal lead out of the blocks in Game One of the Stanley Cup Final.

The HQ knows how that's working for everyone else...

It did take an extra couple of minutes, but the Kings are winners of Game 1 with Game 2 after the horse race Saturday night.
Here's the highlights


Gene Principe catches up with Mike Richards about Mr. Game 7
((HT: Sportsnet))

THIS MIGHT BE THE WILDEST ENDING TO REGULATION IN MODERN MEMORY

((HT: CJZero/NHL on NBC))

This was the end of regulation for Game One of the Stanley Cup Final


Absolute, bat-s*** crazy ending and they headed to overtime...

This Is Why Drew Doughty Was Drafted 2nd Overall

((HT: LA Kings their own selves))

Doughty tied Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at twos with this move...


Yeah...

Not bad...

The game still goes on at present...

The Kings Are Back In The NHL Finals

((HT: NBCSN/NHL))

First, let's just say that the one thing better than a Game 7, mutual-elimination game where the winner gets to go to the Stanley Cup Final is an overtime, Game 7, mutual-elimination game where the winner gets to go to the Stanley Cup Final

Here's the highlights- if you're a Kings fan...


And the reaction in Los Angeles
((HT: MyFoxLA))
Los Angeles Local News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

With an early preview
((HT: ESPN))

Kings And Blackhawks Go For A 5th Period In Game 5

The HQ had a feeling that the game would either be 13-11 (after the Montreal-Rangers street fight the night before) or was going to be a game where Corey Crawford and Jonathan Quick were going to be on their heads...

Actually it was a little of both...

The Kings were down 2-0 after four minutes and 3-1 in the second period. But the Blackhawks let them back in the game- not rattled by early returns- and went deep into the night with an unlikely hero.

Chantal McCabe talks us through the highlights
((HT: NHL.com))


The larger questions in America 6 Friday will be around the Hawks Patrick Kane and wondering if his Game 5 efforts were just a one-shot deal or not and will Corey Crawford still look a step late on some instances when the Kings have the puck in traffic.

Corey Crawford Being Investigated For Water Bottle Spraying Of Kings Fan

((HT: Sportsnet))

TMZ Sports broke the story about an LA Kings fan and an interaction with Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford...

Corey Wong has filed battery charges on the goalie before he left Staples Center and thinks the bottle had both water and backwash- since he is seeking treatment for an eye irritation.

Hockey Central discusses...

The LAPD is investigating...

And what is it about LA sports teams being exposed to water incidents with fans, anyway...???

Frankly, the HQ thinks that Mr. Wong has too much time on his hands and is taking things a little too seriously at the moment. But that's just us...

ICYMI: Slash Rocks The Anthem to Start Kings-Blackhawks Playoff Game

This is always cool. Even if "Slash" is 162-years old....

Check out the former Guns and Roses guitarist doing the solo guitar performance of the National Anthem before Saturday night's Game 3 of the Chicago Blackhawks/Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup playoff series...

Really, there is much to be said here other than play the video...and make sure you have the volume on...

Oh, in case you are wondering, the Kings won the game 4-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series...

Thanks for sharing the video NHL.com

Selanne Retires From NHL, Kings Show Class At The End

((HT: NHL))

Teemu Selanne can still play hockey- just not to the ridiculous level that we have seen over the last two decades and to the level he thinks he should be playing at to be a productive member of professional hockey in North America.

So, after 21 seasons and obscene offensive numbers, he's hanging it up in the NHL. Whenever the Ducks lost their last game would be his last. And last night's 6-2 loss to Los Angeles was it...

As is tradition, players congratulate each other for a series well-played at the end and it was absolute class...

Here's Selanne going through the handshake line...


The next question is: Does this mean it's all for Saku Koivu as well...???

Here's the highlights from TSN with Cuthbert and Ferraro...


There is talk that, with his home country squad of Jokerit in the KHL and Jari Kurri as GM, that Selanne will go home to wrap it up. The HQ certainly hopes so...

McLellan: "We Got Cheated..." Sending Kings-Sharks To Game 7

((HT: CSN Bay Area))

The San Jose Sharks had one of those epic melt-downs that make this time of year this time of year...

With a game tied at one in the third last night, the Sharks scored three goals in just under three minutes to give the Kings a 4-1 win tying the Western Conference first-rounder at three games a piece with Game 7 coming up Wednesday night.

Here's the evidence of the collapse...


Sharks head coach Todd McLellan, defending his troops, says his team got cheated on the eventual game-winning goal by Justin Williams. Here's his presser that, might, cost him some money...


The Sharks game went downhill from there and got involved in fights with Logan Couture, Raffi Torres, Joe Thornton, Brett Burns, and Andrew Desjardins in a 3:27 span.

Elsewhere, Pittsburgh got a hat trick from Evgeny Malkin and held off Columbus 4-3 while Minnesota forced a Game 7 with Colorado with a win of their own...

Gretzky Goes To Tinseltown Plus 25

((HT: Sportsnet))

It will be 25 years this week that Wayne Gretzky was either traded or sold- depending on your perspective from the Edmonton Oilers to the silver-and-black Los Angeles Kings...

Christine Simpson traveled 9,000 miles to put together this must-see story on the principles in the deal...
Who still have their own opinions...

Now, if she could only tell the lunchtime stories that are off the record...