*THE FOLLOWING BELOW IS NOT WRITTEN BY THE ROYAL HALF,
BUT RATHER PUMPERNICHOLL, OUR MASTER RECAPPER*
 

KINGS 2, BLUES 1

Down 2-0 in the series and facing the possibility of being put on the brink of elimination, the Los Angeles Kings had to answer back in Game 3. The atmosphere inside Staples Center was a bit reserved. Sure, the defending Stanley Cup Champions were home for the first time in the playoffs, but they were trailing in the series, their ace goaltender seemed rattled, and it just didn't seem like the team was poised for another run.

But a strange thing happened as the game progressed. Once Slava Voynov scored the game's lone goal in the 2nd period, it's almost as if the fans realized this team did still had it. The belief carried over to Game 4, where despite falling in the hole early, the Kings battled back and evened the series.

There will always be a large majority of the fanbase that will expect the worse even when things are going well. It's been engrained in our hockey DNA. Small victories on the path to ultimate heartbreak is all this franchise had known for four decades. But now, the culture is changing right before our eyes.

The Kings were no longer a team we wanted to win, they have become a team we expect to win. While this belief may just lead to more dejection for fans, it's not something people seem to be concerned about any longer.

This was never more evident than in Game 6, where it became clear that fans hadn't shown up to watch a game, they came to see the Kings win.

Let's see how it all played out:
 

I believe the St. Louis blues my home city will fuck the kings up tonight and take this series #LGB
— Jake stowers (@jstowerz) May 10, 2013

Dear Lord, excuse my language, but please let the Blues kick the living shit outta the Kings tonight. Sincerely, all of St. Louis
— DJ Humphrey (@DJ_Humphrey_) May 10, 2013

LETS GO BLUESSSSS!!!! #LGB fuck the kings for real. twitter.com/Renegade_Joey/…
— Joey MLG Renegade (@Renegade_Joey) May 11, 2013

Lets go BLUES.... Fuck the fucking KINGS!!!!!!!!!
— DIRTY O™ (@Dirty_O12) May 11, 2013

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3 California Hockey Teams in the 2nd Round!
Well the Anaheim Ducks sure screwed this concept up, huh?
Flags inspired by Battle of Cali.

Kings-Sharks. Round 2. In more ways than one.

Let's do this.

It's always an honor and a pleasure when Hockey Blogging Overlord Greg Wyshynski from Yahoo's Puck Daddy asks you to write a eulogy for a NHL playoff team that has been eliminated. Last year, I did one for the San Jose Sharks. This year... the St. Louis Blues. You can read it exclusively over at Puck Daddy.

This will make much more sense once you've read the eulogy.

FIRST.... read today's GAMEDAY PREVIEW for tonight's Game 5 between the Los Angeles Kings and the St. Louis Blues. Exclusively on LAKings.com.

This will make more sense once you've read the GAMEDAY PREVIEW.

THEN...  it's a brand-new Game 6 Edition of All The Kings Men Podcast!!! Jesse Cohen and I chat about the LA Kings impressive win in Game 5... and play a spirited game of F, Marry, Kill with Brigitte from OneGirlOnePuck. You can check out the brand-new episode of All The Kings Men Podcast here, subscribe to it on iTunes or listen below:

FINALLY... Indiana Matt is back with some brand new Because It's The Cups™.

Team TRH will be out in full effect at the game tonight. Let's do this, Kings.

*THE FOLLOWING BELOW IS NOT WRITTEN BY THE ROYAL HALF,
BUT RATHER PUMPERNICHOLL, OUR MASTER RECAPPER*

KINGS 3, BLUES 2 (OT)

Best first-round series right here. MT @jprutherford Blues will host the #lakings in the first round of the playoffs. Kings beat Sharks 3-2.

— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) April 28, 2013

Sitting at the airport. Off to St Louis for the Blues vs Kings. This might be the best series.

— Kelly Hrudey (@KellyHrudey) April 29, 2013

Would anyone complain if Blues-Kings was best-of-11?

— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) May 5, 2013

Kings showing why they're champs. Gritty comeback vs the Blues in series. Sad 1 of those 2 teams has to go. Conference final worthy series
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) May 9, 2013

Mark Spector must be so bored right now.

— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) May 9, 2013

@theroyalhalf "MOAR RED LIGHTZ! MOAR NOIZE!" - Mark Spector

— PumperNicholl (@PumperNicholl) May 9, 2013

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FIRST.... read today's GAMEDAY PREVIEW for tonight's Game 5 between the Los Angeles Kings and the St. Louis Blues. Exclusively on LAKings.com.

This will make more sense once you've read the GAMEDAY PREVIEW.

THEN...  it's a brand-new Game 5 Edition of All The Kings Men Podcast!!! Jesse Cohen and I chat with Jon Hoven from Mayors Manor about the LA Kings impressive win in Game 4... but mainly we talk about a game that is going to be played in January of next year. Plus, the Stanley Cup-less Brad Lee from St. Louis GameTime stops by to cry chat. You can check out the brand-new episode of All The Kings Men Podcast here, subscribe to it on iTunes or listen below:

It's been a fast and furious Round 1 for the Los Angeles Kings... so I want to make sure nothing is falling through the cracks in terms of your entertainment dollar here at The Royal Half. Don't forget, we are still writing GAMEDAY PREVIEWS exclusively at LAKings.com... so you can always check out our archive here. 

This is the kind of stuff you are missing out on.
Well, actually... no... this was from our article here.

And on Monday... a few hours before the LA Kings defeated the St. Louis Blues in the Game 4 of their series... I appeared on The War Room on SiriusXM's NHL Network to preview the the game. I've been on The War Room a few times and it's always fun... even if it's short.

And for the 4 of you that aren't on Twitter... our own Indiana Matt has been killing it with his now-patented Because It's The Cup Spoofs™. Here are the best of Round 1 so far:

And not to be outdone... Ironsight Design put together an amazing infographic at the start of the Kings-Blues series to help Jay Bouwmeester get accustomed to the NHL Playoffs. 

#TeamTRH 4-eva.

*THE FOLLOWING BELOW IS NOT WRITTEN BY THE ROYAL HALF,
BUT RATHER PUMPERNICHOLL, OUR MASTER RECAPPER*

KINGS 4, BLUES 3

There's never a true consensus of how a fan base feels. No matter what day of the year, a small percentage will be content while the majority believes the sky is falling and all hope is lost.

FIRST... read today's GAMEDAY PREVIEW for Game 4 between the Los Angeles Kings and the St. Louis Blues. Exclusively on LAKings.com.

This will make more sense once you've read the GAMEDAY PREVIEW.

THEN...  it's a brand-new 1st Round Edition of All The Kings Men Podcast!!! Jesse Cohen and I chat with Jon Hoven from Mayors Manor about the LA Kings inability to score goals. You can check out the brand-new episode of All The Kings Men Podcast here, subscribe to it on iTunes or listen below:

*THE FOLLOWING BELOW IS NOT WRITTEN BY THE ROYAL HALF,
BUT RATHER PUMPERNICHOLL, OUR MASTER RECAPPER*
 

KINGS 1, BLUES 0

Oh, this really is going to get worse.

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FIRST... read our GAMEDAY PREVIEW for tonight's Game 3 between the Los Angeles Kings and the St. Louis Blues. Exclusively on LAKings.com.

This will make more sense once you've read the GAMEDAY PREVIEW.

And via The Royal Half's 1990s LA Kings Historian, Spike Coffman... we have a World Premiere Video that just might bring tears to your eyes.

Tears of laughter that is.