Russell Morgan 
It’s been an up-and-down start to the LA Kings through the first 20 games. There are highs including back-to-back road wins in Nashville and Minnesota, accompanied by lows with disappointing losses to San Jose and Chicago. But even as we ride this hockey roller-coaster’s loop-de-loops and helices, I feel…bored.
That lack of enthusiasm only intensified after a disappointing 1-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night in Los Angeles, a game that rivaled the excitement generated by the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight.
If you ask Kings’ head coach Jim Hiller however, he’d tell you a different story. “I thought it was a really good game. I don’t know if anyone else felt that way. But I thought it was a high level game.”
Ummm what…?
I like Hiller. I think he’s done a good job so far in his first go as an NHL head coach. But this is what irks fans the most. We’re not dumb. Anybody who watched that game, or at least those who didn’t change the channel, knows what they saw.
It was an apathetic showcase with LA unable to produce anything of substance, getting shutout against a team that allowed 15 goals in their last three games coming in, and while going 0/5 on the power play in the process.
That comment parallels the infamous “We were right there” quote from Luc Robitaille after last year’s playoff exit. And therein lies my problem with this team. There’s no emotion. Everything said from the coach down to the players is bland, cliche nonsense.
“It’s a hard league to win.”
“We’re getting our chances.”
“Look to pick it back up next game”
Blah…blah…blah…blah. Are you guys uncomfortable yet?
Can someone show us something to preserve a little bit of interest? Players were signed over the offseason to elevate the Kings’ intensity. Sure, the eventual return of Drew Doughty will help. But so far, that physical nature is what’s missing the most.
Run someone into the boards. Crash the net. Dive for a loose puck. Perhaps we’re asking for too much, but damn. I’d rather sit through the 9-8 Seattle debacle over whatever that was against Buffalo.
The LA Kings will make the playoffs. I can almost guarantee that. And I’m sure they sense they’re good enough to be in the postseason as well. But at least give fans a reason to think this time will be different. Because right now, another matchup with Edmonton somehow feels inevitable. With the result being the same.
Featured Image Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images