I think that, be it Kings or Ducks, this series has been fantastic for hockey in SoCal, and fantastic for the league.

Its really just representative of what happens when these two teams get together. I can't remember a game that wasn't competitive on some level between both. I'm definitely rooting for the Ducks, but I was a longtime Kings fan from 79 when I first started watching the likes of Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor along with Rogie and Mario Lessard. It certainly has been entertaining.

Bettman spoke recently about how high school hockey programs in greater LA has increased like a hundredfold with the success of the Ducks and Kings. I think it goes to show that non-hockey fans of other sports (especially B-ball) can be won over to the game given the proper exposure

I remember the NHL in 2002 had a diversity program that went into inter city areas with minorities and targeted them for youth hockey. It was led by Willie O'ree which some might know as a former nhl hockey player. After that program was set in place they started to build rinks everywhere and the popularity of the sport grew exponentially. I got to meet Willie O'ree and he was so passionate and knowledgable on the sport it couldn't help but rub off on the youth. I think that was a benchmark date in which the sport began to grow in popularity in Cali. There are many high schools in the area that have very competitive hockey teams, but most people that make the draft Emerson Etem, Dante Smith Pelly included come from the youth programs that do tours around the states. USC apparently has a pretty decent hockey program, but i've never been. The lowest I usually go is The Long Beach Ice Dogs.

Holy crap that first period reminded me of the cup clincher game six against the Devils in 2012, when the Kings are at the top of their game they look unbeatable.

Well despite being down 2-0 in the first period of game one I'm taking the Habs in the east. That's probably why they're down.

West will be EPIC. The last two cup champs. If the Kings can play the way they played last night they will advance but the Blackhawks will have a lot to say about that, this is a pick 'em series for me and either team that makes the finals will hoist the cup in June

Wow, 7-1 for the Rangers, halfway through the third. Montreal is really collapsing.

Well if the Habs make the finals they're gonna have to 1. Come back from a 1-0 Rangers series lead and 2. Play a LOT better than this, it's 7-1 Rangers halfway though the third. This is just brutal.

I've never heard the Bell Centre this quiet

Its probably easier mentally to go into the next game after a blowout than a close loss