I know that the LA Kings basically made popular the idea of being "edgy" on social media, but - as kids these days tend to say - this one did not age well. And really, how could they have expected it to? Of all the things they have over the Devils, they went with the star power angle? And they chose the guy who's having a bounce back season after his organization has done everything short of leaving him on the curb of Sunset Boulevard during trash pickup in trying to rid themselves of his contract the last two years? Credit to the Kings' former captain for all that he's accomplished throughout his career, but - when it comes to selling tickets - I'd rather pay the price of admission to get a glimpse of Charlie Brown's field goal prowess than Dustin Brown's veteran leadership. The Kings have obviously had an unbelievable season prior to last night, but if they think "heavy" teams built on physicality and veteran savvy are what puts asses in the seats then they should turn the Staples Center into a retirement home. We are no more than 5 years removed from the Los Angeles winning the most absolute of bragging rights over New Jersey, and instead their social media team tried to convince us (and themselves) that - outside of the occasional Jonathan Quick tantrum - their team is actually an entertaining watch? I'd say that attempted burn backfired, but they put their face to the flame and all Taylor Hall had to do was provide the gasoline...
Usually I'd take this moment to critique the effort of a top defensive pairing that got split down the middle quicker than the check after a horribly dutch date, but making other high-priced players look look like cheap knockoffs is just what superstars do. Anyone who has watched even a period of Devils' hockey this year knows that Taylor Hall has been exactly that from the first drop of the pick this season, and his penchant for looking peerless was on full display last night. As has become a bit of a foregone conclusion, he - yet again - stood out as far and away the most dominant player on the ice and that's no small feat against the top team in the Western Conference. Now, that feat is exponentially smaller then the Devils' staying afloat without him in the lineup, so all breaths will be held until the entirety of the prognosis on his knee becomes available. However, need not look further than some unknown scrub needing to stick his leg out to slow down a lineup that was showcasing the best side of it's bipolarity for proof that the Prudential Center is no longer in need opponents to provide the entertainment... I don't know why it took a weekend in which the Devils literally turned over four points to divisional opponents for them to come out with one of their most complete performances of the season. Regardless, down to Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt biting at the ankles of the guy that compromised the unstoppability of their line combination, last night's skin-on-skin spanking of a team that mustered only 17 shots while playing catch up in a futile attempt to extend their 8 game winning streak was about as thorough a reminders of how good this team can be when they don't play defenseless...
Let's hope that Taylor Hall's knee cooperates fairly quickly, because - with Kyle Palmieri's return looking imminent - they'd be even more dangerous with him than they are completely and totally fucked without him.
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