LA Kings Coach Darryl Sutter is actually really funny

Caller names 2 fake LA Kings, Francesa has no ‘ideer’ he’s being punked by the caller

NEW YORK —

This is priceless. A caller calls Mike Francesa, of WFAN, goes on to name two faux Kings -- and of course, Mike wouldn’t know the difference anyway. I might expect this from Tony Paige, but his Holiness? You know he doesn’t know what to say when he begins asking little callers questions. Have a look.

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti at rally: ‘This is a big fucking day’;Fox Sports West quickly apologies for profanity (VIDEO)

This may very well be one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen out of a politician. It was today at the Kings’ rally at the Staples Center. He prefaces it all by noting they say politicians should never swear -- and then he swears magnificently. And of course, the weasels at Fox Sports West had to apologise for the mayor’s use of profanity. Well done, Mayor Garcetti. I have a new favourite politician!

Kings coach Darryl Sutter caught ‘smiling’ at parade; he offers immediate apology to those who are stunned

Rangers: One Win in the Finals Parade will be Tuesday morning on 33rd Street between 7th and 8th avenues

Sather

SATIRE

NEW YORK CITY —

Rather than causing a big scene along the Canyon of Heroes, the New York Rangers today announced they will host a “One Win in the Finals Parade” along 33rd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues on Tuesday, with a 10 a.m. stepoff.

Madison Square Garden Chairman James Dolan made the excited announcement Saturday.

“It’s been 20 years since we were in the Finals,” Dolan said. “And our fans were just wonderful in the first three rounds — which, you know, we won. And while we all were pretty sure the Kings would win the final round, we wanted our fans to be able to celebrate and savor that one win, Game No. 3.

Butch Goring will be
on hand for the parade.

“Which, I might remind you, was also Henrik Lundqvist’s first and only Finals victory.”

To be feted will the Lundqvist for his one win, Brian Boyle for his goal, Rick Nash for nothing, Brad Richards for nothing, the power play for its two successful goals in 21 tries and John Amirante for singing the anthem and twirling those towels like no one else ever has before or will do again.

Fans are invited to bring effigies of NHL referees. It doesn’t matter what the number is on the back of the sweater, Dolan says. Just bring anything that resembles an NHL referee and that can be hanged from a stick like a puppet.

Rooting for the NYR caused me more stress than I would have had were the Devils playing for the Stanley Cup

LOS ANGELES —

I tried.

I really did.

And I tried harder when it was challenging.

I really did.

And yet, it all fell apart about 10 minutes after Alec Martinez scored in double overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings their second Stanley Cup in three years. And it did so because a handful of people decided that when I said two weeks ago that I was pulling for the Rangers to win the Stanley Cup — for the sake of my uncle for the most part — that I was lying to get a rise out of people.

For starters, here is what I said before the start of the series. I won’t repeat the entire post, but will share the part that explains the most in the simplest of terms.

“So yeah, as I push 40, I stand here almost humbled. Maybe I have early-onset senility. Maybe it’s just that as guys who I love and admire — like my Uncle Mugga and Bob Gelb — get older, the chances of them getting to see one beyond ’94 are becoming slimmer. One thing is for sure — unlike 1994, if the Blueshirts win a Stanley Cup, I won’t be sulking for days on end with intense anger. Instead, somewhere, there will be a smile — a genuine smile. Plus, I mean, what’s better than hearing a pro-Rangers crowd loudly chanting ‘Marty,’ even if it’s not for the right Marty, right?”

Mugga

Pretty simple. Uncle Mugga is about to turn 55. Mr. Gelb isn’t getting younger. And there were a lot of others who I’d mentioned previously, as well, for whom I would be happy had the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately for them, the Kings won it — and it was the same ending, as it has been every other year in his career, for Henrik Lundqvist, a world-class goalie who just can’t seem to find a stretch of good luck that allows him to be the victor in the final game of an NHL season.

Yet it’s been the reaction of some — I won’t name names here — that has baffled me the most. It started before Game 1 was even played when one person spent more than an hour telling people on a Rangers forum that I was, indeed, “trolling” around, waiting for the first opportunity I could find, to change my avitar to something anti-Rangers, or to make a faux newspaper front page to rip Lundqvist for always seemingly ending games flat on his ass.

Not ready to crown Hank a king just yet — but close

NEW YORK —

A buddy of mine emailed me last night and said: “And come on...after tonight? Even YOU gotta call him The King.”

My response was: “No I don’t actually, but he did play the best game of his career last night.”

And I really believe he did. Remarkably, Lundqvist stopped the final 26 shots of the game. You would have thought it was the Kings were the ones desperate to get back into the series, not the Rangers, they way they turned it on in the third period.

But Lundqvist was ready for the task.

And that final minute was nothing short of remarkable. Some amazing saves. And some incredibly good luck. Now I understand why goalies look to make slushies on the ice. A little less of it in the crease, and perhaps there is yet another OT.

Yet still, a tremendous game.

That is how close the Kings were to sending Game 4 to OT.

A massive effort.

One worthy of the history books even.

But not yet on the level of a King.

Remember: That day comes when in the final game of the season, Lundqvist is jumping in the air and not sitting on the bench or on his buttocks. And when the stat sheet says he’s the game-winning goalie.

Until then, perhaps prince is more appropriate.

What an utter disappointment these Finals have been

Canessa

The Canessa Commentary
By KEVIN CANESSA Jr.

NEW YORK —

There were 18,006 people supposedly in Madison Square Garden last night. Were I a betting man, I’d say there maybe 20,000 there — and legions of others who will claim to have been there years down the line.

And yet, with the bat of an eyelash — as the new-sounding buzzer went off at MSG to signify that the first period was over — so, too, was the series I really believed would be won by the New York Rangers. And with it went the hopes and dreams of so many diehards — and significantly more front-runners who couldn’t tell you the difference between interference or icing ... or who couldn’t pick Henrik Lundqvist out of a police lineup.

At the end of one period, on a goal with .7 seconds left, the Kings had a 1-0 lead, and for all intents and purposes, the series that had so much promise to be epic — instantly became a dud.

Now in fairness, since by wins and losses, this series has a total parallel to the Finals in 2012, I should note I don’t think this series will necessarily end tomorrow night.

But come on. This is been absolutely fu**ing brutal to watch. And the Rangers. Well, they just look outmatched and outclassed in every facet of the game — from coaching to the goalie. From center ice to the blue lines.

This was a series that was supposed to be competitive.

But the Rangers power play?

This was a series that was supposed to go long.

But Jonathan Quick?

This was a series that could have had 1994 written all over it.

This guy’s post-season has been
nothing short of brilliant.

Instead, it reeks of 1995.

Yet the truth is, we all should have seen this coming. When the Kings get going as they did against San Jose, by coming back from an 0-3 deficit, we still weren’t sure they were legitimate.

After they won Game 7 in Chicago in overtime, some believed they would be exhausted from playing 21 of 21 possible games in the first three rounds.

Yet this is the Kings. This is the team that lost but once on the road in the 2012 playoffs (Game 5 of the Cup Finals). This is the same team that has 17 players who knew what that team did. This is a team some of us forgot about.

We forgot that frankly, they’re the best team in hockey, and are on the verge of forming a dynasty.

And yet, the Rangers, whom no one expected to be here, have every reason to look at the 2014 season fondly.

And yet further, can the season be seen as a success if they ultimately don’t win the Cup?

But this guy — just wow!

Back in 2012, me mate Joel asked me — was the 2011-12 season a success for the New Jersey Devils? My answer was quick — it was a failure. Nothing other than a championship matters.

And yet, I still look back at that 2012 run with amazement. It shouldn’t have happened.

And perhaps the same should be said of the Rangers.

Which is what makes this all the more difficult. When you’re a team that hasn’t been to the finals in precisely two decades, getting there has got to seem like a genuine joy. But part of what separates the Rangers and the Devils is that far too often, the New York organisation as a whole is content raising a DIVISION CHAMPIONS banner. Or in October, an EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS banner.

In October 2012, that same conference-champs banner wasn’t raised at all. It started the season already lifted among the hoards of other banners.

And perhaps that is what should happen at MSG in October.

Because the minute a team gets complacent raising banners other than the big one, it becomes that much more impossible to get back to the Finals.

And with the talent this Rangers team has — and the great stories of Martin St. Louis and Dom Moore — there is no reason why this team cannot get back to the Finals again.

Then again, is there anything sweeter for fans of not the Rangers than knowing that once again, Henrik Lundqvist will have lost his final game of the season?

Now that it is almost over, it’s time to look ahead.

Nice little run, Rangers. Nice little run, indeed.

Unfortunately, it makes not one difference, though.

And it won’t, perhaps, until it’s 2048.

And now, save for the clinching game and eventual parade to cover, it’s time to get back to the team we know and love most.

And to hoping that somehow, it improves — and soon, we’re back in the Finals, too.

Only instead of getting there and being awe-stricken by the opposing goalie, we find a way to win a game, or two, or three — or definitely four.

Wanna see the Rangers tonight? Got $103K? Plus, $1 million will get you into Game 6 — those should really sell no?

Gotta give these sellers some credit for trying, right? Only $103,338 per seat for Game 3 and a cool $1 million per seat for Game 6. I really wonder if anyone would ever pay these prices to see a single game?

@DonLaGreca nearly had an M.I. calling Game 1 of the Finals

LaGreca

LOS ANGELES —

Don LaGreca is one of the nicest guys you are going to find in the radio business and in the NHL. The Devils fan is a sideline reporter for the Rangers Radio Network and fills in when Kenny Albert is unavailable to do radio.

And Kenny wasn’t available to do Game 1 as he was calling the game on TV for NBC since Doc Emrick had a death in his family.

What follows is LaGreca’s call of the final minute of regulation of Game no. 1 of the Finals. It’s one of the best hockey radio calls I’ve ever heard, hands down. The passion here was palpable. And actually made me nervous listening to it on a replay.

Be sure your speakers aren’t too high — or your might wake someone or shatter an eardrum.

The hat is tipped to Bob Mantz and Bob’s Blitz, a website you should be reading daily.

Kings score, Doughty ‘reacts’

CHICAGO —

The proverbial hat is tipped to Bob’s Blitz, a site you should be reading daily, for this gem. (Click that link to read the Blitz after watching the video, please. Thanks)!

With three Game 7s tonight, NHL will show why its post season is best in all of sports

NEW YORK —

Three Game 7s tonight.

If you're a fan of hockey, it doesn't get much better than this. And it's nights like these that demonstrate just why the NHL's post season is better than any other sport's.

One of the games — Los Angeles at San Jose — has historical implications.

The Kings look to become only the fifth team in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win a series. It was last done in 2010 when the Flyers came back from 3-0 down to beat the Boston Bruins in the conference semis (the first time it had happened since the Isles overcame the deficit in 1975).

In Denver, we hope the Avalanche can pull off the Game 7 win at home because, quite frankly, we never want Zach Parise to ever win another playoff series the rest of his career.

We don't want this guy to get
another playoff-series win
ever again. Ever that is.

And of course, in New York, coming off a 5-2 win in Philly, one might expect this to be the Flyers' game to win — but as Kevin Cocca reminded me yesterday, Madison Square Garden puts an incredible fear into the Flyers. So this game may as well go to overtime.

Could you imagine that?

I get heart palpitations just thinking of it.

So while I hate predictions, here are mine

— Los Angeles wins in OT

— Colorado wins comfortably

— Rangers/Flyers go three OTs, and someone scores at the stroke of midnight.

L.A. Kings fans still the dumbest in hockey, perhaps all of sports

This may be the most bizarre I've seen in ages.

The other night, after a win, Mike Richards, of the Kings, sent a stick flying into the stands. Thing is, he threw it right near a woman holding a kid — and the woman DROPPED the kid to get the stick.

The Most Hideous NHL Uniforms Ever: The 1995-96 LA Kings

Hard to believe Wayne Gretzky, the best there ever was, had to put this sweater on numerous times.

Kyle Clifford of Kings gets Cup for a day, and he ... bench presses it

Yup, that's right — Kyle Clifford spent the day with the Cup this summer in Ayr, Ontario, and he spent it bench pressing the trophy.

Well, at least he didn't piss in it like Mark Messier did in 1994.

See for yourself, eh.

Wild game in Edmonton — Oilers nearly royally screwed

EDMONTON, Alberta —

The Edmonton Oilers were nearly screwed, royally, last night, out of a point. But they found a way to get two despite horrendous officiating.

With just about a minute left in the third period, trailing 1-0 to Los Angeles, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored to tie the game. But somehow, after a lengthy discussion, (and Jonathan Quick bitching quite a bit), the officials called the goal back on goaltender interference.

Thing is — there was absolutely no interference. None at all.

The fans were irate, throwing crap all over the ice.

When play resumed, the Oilers tied the game with about 4 seconds left on the clock on a goal from Nail Yakupov.

Then, in OT, Sam Gagner scored to give Edmonton an incredible win.

And oh, did we mention the champs are now 0-3 (only they and Washington are winless).

Had this game not gone to OT, the Oilers would have had every reason to believe they were screwed.

Here's a photo look at the events that transpired. (UPDATE: Video added).

Nugent-Hopkins scores to tie the game — but the goal was called back.

Fans threw objects on to the ice — including beer (see the glass).

The fans were irate. And they had every reason to be.

Nail Yakupov scored to tie it — really.

Gagner scores the game-winner in OT.

Talking hockey on 640 AM Sports in Pompano, Fla.

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. —

Every Sunday morning, I am fortunate to spend a few minutes talking hockey with my buddy, Marc Eisenberg, on 640 Sports Radio. This was a brief one, but I bring it to you today — and will do so each week. I almost always try to get something in about our New Jersey Devils.