May 5, 2016 Page 3 Kings Kicked Off the Throne By Adam Serrao If there is one thing that we have all learned about these Los Angeles Kings over the past few years, it’s that they are the masters of the comeback victory. This year, and more specifically, this playoff series against the San Jose Sharks has been no different. In the final game of the series last Friday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Sharks led 3-0. It seemed as if all was lost. The Kings and the magnificent season that they have had would all be ousted from play, simultaneously. The Kings have fight, though. The team put their sticks to the ice, gritted their teeth, and did everything they could to get back into the game, tying things up at 3 goals apiece. Maybe their comeback attempt took all the energy that the team had out of them, or maybe the Sharks were simply the better team this year. Whatever it was, San Jose rallied in the third period scoring three more goals and with a 6-3 victory, ended the Kings season much sooner than originally expected. The Kings looked outclassed for most of the series against the Sharks, falling behind early and often in almost every game that the two rivals played. Even in Game 3, the one game that the Kings did find a way to win, the Sharks scored first and it took an overtime goal by Tanner Pearson to secure Los Angeles’s first and only victory of the series. “We were chasing the lead all the time. Pretty much every game,” Kings forward Anze Kopitar explained. “With the exception of one game when we scored first, we were chasing the lead the rest of the way. You can’t do that.” The one game that the Kings actually had a lead in was Game 1, when Jake Muzzin scored early on. It wasn’t long, however, before Joe Pavelski knotted things up and before you knew it, Brent Burns made it 2-1 and the Sharks never looked back from there. San Jose dominated the series from that point forward. Despite setting a franchise record this year with 48 wins, the Kings managed to give away the Pacific Division towards the end of the season to their rivals from Anaheim, the Ducks. Their seeding and eventual matchup with the Sharks wasn’t the only thing that led to the Kings downfall, though. The team’s style of play was put in jeopardy when Alec Martinez left due to injury in Game 1. Martinez was a key player in the Kings 2014 playoff run and ultimate championship. Without him, their blue line defense was depleted and as evidence by the 16 goals allowed in the series, the Kings just weren’t the same. “We can’t use injuries as an excuse,” head coach Darryl Sutter explained, “but we weren’t really evenly matched when you think about it. The Sharks got [Marc-Eduard] Vlasic back and we lost Marty. That’s losing the top end of your defense.” When a hockey team loses, its often easiest to blame the goalie. Jonathan Quick allowed 15 goals this postseason, hardly anything like his stellar play of years past. What’s even worse is that the Kings lost to and had trouble getting shots by Quick’s former backup, Martin Jones. It wasn’t only quick allowing goals, though. The Kings star players had trouble scoring them, too. Kopitar was held to just two games in the series, as was Jeff Carter. Tyler Toffoli, a named that was all over the press and Kings coverage in 2014, was rendered completely irrelevant by the Sharks. While the Kings main cogs were held in check all series, the Sharks stars went off. Pavelski and Logan Couture led the charge for the Sharks and ultimately guided their team toward the series win. While its rather difficult to see into the future, the Kings demise seemed to be somewhat on the horizon. The team lost three of their last five games of the regular season and four of their last six, ending the year with two losses to two subpar teams (Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets). Being unable to get into a groove towards the end of the regular season really hurt L.A.’s chances of bringing momentum with them into the postseason. Once the Kings clinched their playoff spot, the team let up. Almost as if they were out of gas or maybe even just stopped trying. “We can make excuses all we want with Martinez being out of the lineup and this and that, but at the end of the day, we didn’t play the right way when we needed to and it ended up costing us,” Kings left wing, Milan Lucic explained. No matter what the real reasoning is, hockey season has come and gone in the city of L.A. There are still teams to root against, like the Ducks or the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Kings will now have to wait another year for a chance to bring the Stanley Cup back to the Staples Center. Now that they have lost, you can say whatever you want about the Kings, but you certainly can’t call them quitters. With their backs to the walls all series long, the Kings fought and battled tooth and nail to bring home wins. Despite being eliminated, that’s all you can ask for from your hometown hockey team. • Burkley & Brandlin LLP A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litiga tion 310-540-6000 Lifetime El Segundo Residents *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization Brian R. Brandlin • Bruce R. Brandlin • Christopher P. Brandlin 16-2027ps_sby-ie-16-012 ©2016 lacmta Expo Line to Santa Monica Opens May 20 Metro Rail’s Expo Line to Santa Monica is only a few weeks away from the grand opening of seven new stations that stretch from Culver City to Santa Monica. As testing continues in the area, please remember to watch for trains. Learn more at metro.net/moreexpo. Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project Update Construction on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project is halfway complete. To celebrate, Metro is inviting members of the community and public to our “Halfway There” event on Saturday, May 7. The free event will include food, games and performances from local businesses and artists. For details, visit metro.net/crenshaw. Sign up for TAP Card Balance Protection Give yourself peace of mind by registering your TAP card to protect its balance. In the unfortunate event that your card is lost or stolen, you can report it and the balance will be restored. To register, visit the new taptogo.net or call 866.TAPTOGO. Go Metro to see the Dodgers Want to reach Dodger Stadium faster this season? Go Metro from Union Station or the South Bay and connect with the Dodger Stadium Express. Your Dodger ticket is good for the fare! For more information, visit metro.net/dodgers. metro.net @metrolosangeles losangelesmetro Classifieds The deadline for Classified Ad submission and payment is Noon on Tuesday to appear in Thursday’s paper. Advertisements must be submitted in writing by mail, fax or email. You may pay by cash, check, or credit card (Visa or M/C over the phone). Errors: Please check your advertisements immediately. Any corrections and/or changes in an ad must be requested prior to the following Tuesday deadline in order to receive a credit. A credit will be issued for only the first time the error appears. Multiple runs will only be credited for the first time the error appears. No credit will be issued for an amount greater than the cost of the advertisement. Beware: Employment offers that suggest guaranteed out-of-state or overseas positions may be deceptive or unethical in nature. 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Help Wanted E x e c u t i v e A s s i s t a n t Billing, emails, create promotions, marketing, misc. errands, filing, send your resume and salary to: johnsims43@aol.com Help Wanted P r o d u c t i o n A s s i s t a n t Adjusting size scales on PO’s to best cover sales,Order and distribute hangtags for special orders,Review bookings, packing list and shortage/ overage reports, Carefully track WIP to ensure vendors are on time throughout the production process, send your resume and salary to: gtt878@aol.com Seeking Employment House sitter avail, great references, animal lover, professional, Pepperdine alumna, call 310 6252352 Real Estate Services OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS! REAL ESTATE SALESPEOPLE WANTED! MUST BE LICENSED NEW LICENSEES AND PART TIME WELCOME CALL MARIE 310- 214-3211 Yard Sale St Andrew Church Annual Yard Sale, Sat, May 7, 7 AM - ?, Concord and Mariposa, furniture, clothing, books, kitchen items, videos, brica brac.
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