Fansided

NHL: California Knows How To Hockey

By Mike Majeski

October 26, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) is hit by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy (6) during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 26, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) is hit by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy (6) during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

As it turns out, California has become a great spot for NHL hockey.

It’s the fourth week of the NHL season – meaning we have seen three NBC “Rivalry Night” match-ups come and go: the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens have played one game, as have the Rangers / Devils, and the Penguins / Flyers. All of these bitter rivalries finished without incident, causing some to wonder if we’re seeing the new, softer, enforcer-less NHL. Turns out, we were all looking in the wrong places.

Attribute it to late start times or simple East Coast bias, but the first certifiably “wild” game of the season took place on Sunday between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks ended the Ducks seven game winning streak with a 4-1 win, but the game caught everyone’s attention due to the 165 penalty minutes handed out during the ensuing brawls:

California has been the epicenter of hockey since the Los Angeles Kings won their second Stanley Cup in three seasons. Their win in 2012 put the Kings back on the map; last year’s Championship has people throwing around the word “dynasty”.

“That 70’s Line” has taken the league by storm and has us all trying to remember the last time one line of players has contributed so much to a team’s offense. Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, and Tanner Pearson have combined for 34 points (17 goals and 17 assists) and so far defenses do not have a way to stop them.

Currently the Kings have 14 points on the season (6-1-2 record) which puts them third overall in the NHL. Only the Montreal Canadiens and the Anaheim Ducks have more; both are tied with 16 points.

Oct 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates with center Jeff Carter (77) after scoring a goal in the first period against the Edmonton Oilers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates with center Jeff Carter (77) after scoring a goal in the first period against the Edmonton Oilers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The Ducks may have gooned it up against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night, but after losing their home opener to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Ducks won seven games in a row. They outscored their opponents 25-9 during the winning streak. Sunday’s loss to the San Jose Sharks was by far their worst performance since the opener.

What the game with the Sharks lacked in actual hockey, it made up for with entertainment value with the fights and a playoff-like atmosphere. Any match-up between the California teams is a must-watch this season, with all three vying to be the super power in the Pacific Division, as well as the Western Conference.

The San Jose Sharks cooled off after winning four of their first five games and went on a four game losing streak, before beating the Ducks. The hot start to the season surprised many, as the Sharks had a tumultuous offseason following their disappointing collapse to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Montreal and Chicago are all playing great hockey, but the best games so far have been played by the three California teams. It is already pretty clear that the path to the Stanley Cup Final will run through the state this season. It will be difficult for the Kings to repeat, as no team has done that since the 97/98 Detroit Red Wings, but if any team is up for the challenge it is the Kings, who always seem to take their game to another level during the playoffs.

It wouldn’t be surprising for the Sharks to finally go on a run during a season where nearly everyone expected them to miss the playoffs. The Anaheim Ducks will likely be at the top of the Pacific Division, but like the Sharks, they need to prove that they can win in the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Kings may have put California hockey back on the map, but we cannot forget that it was the Anaheim Ducks that brought the state it’s first Stanley Cup Championship. Still, the resurgence of the Kings and the success of the Sharks and Ducks has made California one of the strongest “non-traditional” markets in the league. Hockey still isn’t catching on in Arizona and we have seen some of the attendance issues in Florida, but California proves that with success comes fans.

It wasn’t too long ago that the Kings were a forgotten team, the Ducks were a Disney gimmick, and the Sharks, well, were the Sharks. Now all three teams are successful franchises (despite some pain in San Jose) and perennial contenders.

More from FanSided

Home/Anaheim Ducks