By winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, the Kings took the City of Angels by storm, as for the first time ever, celebrities made their way to Staples Center to watch a championship game on the ice instead of the hardwood.
The Lakers fizzled out of the playoffs for the second year in a row and the Clippers, despite the hype surrounding them during the regular season, disappointed just as much after being swept in the second round of the postseason.
Staples Center quickly went from catering to three postseason teams to just one.
Unlike their inner-city brethren, the Kings didn't disappoint and are now the team people in Hollywood can't get enough of, and with good reason.
After losing games 81 and 82 of the regular season to their in-state rivals, the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles found itself as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference heading into the postseason.
The President's Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks awaited the Kings in the first round and not a soul in the world (with the exception of some Kings fans) expected L.A. to escape.
But the Kings stunned the hockey world by knocking out the top-seeded Canucks in five games.
Then it was on to St. Louis.
L.A. made even lighter work of the No. 2-seeded Blues, sweeping them and improving to a perfect 5-0 on the road during the playoffs.
Overpowering hockey of this caliber had never been executed by a No. 8 seed before.
As the Kings prepared to make the trip to Phoenix for the Western Conference Finals, hockey fans around the world knew they were witnessing something special.
For the third consecutive series, the Kings quickly got their opponents to the brink of elimination, and after their Game 5 clincher against the Coyotes, ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Kings
