*THE FOLLOWING BELOW IS NOT WRITTEN BY THE ROYAL HALF,
BUT RATHER PUMPERNICHOLL, OUR MASTER RECAPPER*
KINGS 3, BLUES 2 (OT)
Wow. What an amazing series fans are being treated to in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Blues and Kings have battled hard in their first four games with each game being decided by a single goal. Whether you love tremendous goaltending, bone-crushing checks or poetry-in-motion offense, this matchup has offered something for every hockey fan to love.
However, no one should be too surprised by this. After all, plenty of former players, journalists, analysts and just about every hockey mind agreed this was the series to watch:
Best first-round series right here. MT @jprutherford Blues will host the #lakings in the first round of the playoffs. Kings beat Sharks 3-2.— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) April 28, 2013
Sitting at the airport. Off to St Louis for the Blues vs Kings. This might be the best series.— Kelly Hrudey (@KellyHrudey) April 29, 2013
Would anyone complain if Blues-Kings was best-of-11?— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) May 5, 2013
Kings showing why they're champs. Gritty comeback vs the Blues in series. Sad 1 of those 2 teams has to go. Conference final worthy series
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) May 9, 2013
That is, except for one scribe who has decided that being a contrarian is essential for furthering his career. We've poked fun at him because that's what we do.
Mark Spector must be so bored right now.— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) May 9, 2013
@theroyalhalf "MOAR RED LIGHTZ! MOAR NOIZE!" - Mark Spector— PumperNicholl (@PumperNicholl) May 9, 2013
But surely even he couldn't deny the beauty of this series any longer, right?!
At least Kings and Blues fans can agree on one thing.
Editor's note: At the time of publishing this post, Mark Spector decided to delete his post.
I applaud him for standing behind his beliefs and opinions.
I applaud him for standing behind his beliefs and opinions.
PREGAME:
When someone says "I cant believe you would drive to stl just for a blues game" bitch its the fucking playoffs its not just a game! #firedup— Katie Murphy (@KLMsmurf) May 8, 2013
OK we can agree on two things.
@brianaextreme can we get a tweet shout out for the blues tonight its game five! Fuck the LA Kings! Represent girl haha #lgbstl #bleedinblue— James Madden (@Jamesmadden88) May 8, 2013
WEBCAM GIRLS AND BLUES HOCKEY, THAT'S WHAT ST. LOUIS DOES! (NSFW)
Blues better fucking win tonight or i will cryyy— DIRTY O™ (@Dirty_O12) May 8, 2013
Fuck these thundesticks. #stlblues— Laken Graves (@graves_laken27) May 9, 2013
Apparently this game was being played in Anaheim. ...and in 2002.
Seriously... who spells "thundersticks" wrong?
Seriously... who spells "thundersticks" wrong?
If the Blues lose tonight, just fuck it ahahaaha.— Fred Johnston Jr. (@FredyJ5) May 9, 2013
FUCK THE KINGS! FUCK THE KINGS! now say this in a chanting fashion. #FuckTheKings— David Backes's Ego (@notdavidbackes) May 9, 2013
That's about as creative as I'd expect.
Shit the hell up mom the blues game is on— Blake Hasty (@Sexy_Hasty1) May 9, 2013
MOM! The meatloaf!
Who Tryin to get fucked up watching the blues game— Dalton Branstetter (@daltoncb1993) May 9, 2013
Good thing the Blues had their lucky fan at the game tonight twitter.com/tslo_6/status/…— Tim Slocum (@tslo_6) May 9, 2013
Looks like we made it to the puck drop, and just in time.
1st PERIOD:
— Clayton Tucker (@claytontuck123) May 9, 2013
They sent restaurant giftcards. Didn't Hitchcock pass them out?
if blues dont win tonight then omg today was just like fuck it— Miilan Patell (@thedopestchild) May 9, 2013
I still think your Tumblr work would be worth it.
Blues, you lose tonight go fuck yourselves because we all know how Game 6 ends— Rick Kulacki Jr. (@uiwwildthing) May 9, 2013
Blues fans still believe.
Fuck you LA Fitness for not having the Kings game on right now— Vianca Danielle (@Viiianca) May 9, 2013
Your daily #FirstWorldProblem.
2nd PERIOD:
The second period started off mu---
FUCK YOU JEFF CARTER YOU LIKE MEN— BMO (@Mattthesex) May 9, 2013
Fuck off Carter! The Blues need to win this game, Asshole.— Chase (@Miller_HighLite) May 9, 2013
Fuck me carter suck a Dick.— Alex Calvert✅(@4thLineCalvert) May 9, 2013
Honestly. If no one lays Carter out, I will. I hate that preppy, drunk fuck. Him and his butt buddy, Richards.— Marisa Thurston(@marisaxthurston) May 9, 2013
Fuck you Jeff Carter. You bleach blonde haired bitch— Ryan Karns (@CptnKarnivore22) May 9, 2013
--ch quicker as Jeff Carter got the Kings on the board after he cashed in on Drew Doughty's sloppy seconds.
Blues Goalllllll!!!!!!!!!!STEEN!!!!
— Thug Waffles(@hippyhoppin) May 9, 2013
THUG WAFFLED APPROVED!
“@jstriebel22: FUCKING FUCK YES. I'll have your babies, Alexander Steen. I'll do it. #stlblues” I SAY THIS PHRASE AT LEAST ONCE A DAY— Sarah (@sarah_rieso) May 9, 2013
3rd PERIOD:
With a tie game heading into the third, the Blues knew that they couldn't allow anoth---
Fuck ya carter. Elliot was jerkin off in the corner on that one.— liam (@lstirtzinger_91) May 9, 2013
"Fuck Carter!" is all I've been hearing for the past minute. Yeah mad bro? @emburroughs But seriously Blues lets go!— Angie(@angwink) May 9, 2013
Fuck Jeff Carter. Pretty boy, BITCH.— Tree Walrus (@TreeWalrus) May 9, 2013
Can I marry Jeff Carter @lakings ? Pretty sure my wife won't mind..— Joshua Trujillo (@MontrealKing) May 9, 2013
---er quick start by the Kings. Oh jeeze.
But at least the Kings knew the stakes. Finish this game off and they'd be heading back to Los Angeles with a commanding lead in the series and a chance to close out on home ice. I'm sure this will end without incident.
i just screamed so loud and my dad got pissed but fuck it #goblues #getthecup— Eric c. (@Leif_ERICsonDAY) May 9, 2013
Sigh. Blues tie it up as Alex Pi... uh, help me out, Rob Fukuzaki, Sports Anchor for ABC7.
Never change, local news anchors. Never, ever change.
WAKE THE FUCK UP AND TURN YOUR TV BACK ON BOYS!!! FREE HOCKEY! WE'RE GOIN TO OVERTIME AT SCOTTRADE TONIGHT! #STLBLUESPLAYOFFS— Jeremy Kirsch (@stlbluesfan83) May 9, 2013
Apparently Blues fans were just as sure of the outcome.
— St. Louis Sports (@STLSportsUpdate) May 9, 2013
Seems like a good time to move on to the OT.
OVERTIME:
OVERTIME:
Why the fuck is it so dark during intermission at Scottrade. #stlBlues fans make out sessions. #getweird— Penguins Hockey (@PensBench) May 9, 2013
Have you seen the people in St. Louis??
Here we go! Blues in overtime. Watching hockey and having a blunt makes me forget the world's bullshit just for a while :)— Briana Lee(@BrianaExtreme) May 9, 2013
WEBCAM GIRL IS BACK! (Still NSFW)
Don't you hate when you have to shit but it's OT in the #stanleycupplayoffs? #noDVR #reallifeproblems #goBlues— Poncho Jesus (@DevilsPoncho1) May 9, 2013
Poncho Jesus is about to have the Kings drop a deuce on his night...
Elliot had a bigger five hole than a dirty hookers vagina. Fuck ya voynov— liam (@lstirtzinger_91) May 9, 2013
Approximately 25% if the words in my timeline after the goal contain the word "fuck"awful creative bunch here... #stlblues— Hitch's Hat (@HitchsHat) May 9, 2013
Oh come on. It can't be that bad.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck... #STLBlues— TJMC/Pirate Dash (@toonboy92484) May 9, 2013
Dammit. Fuck. Shit. Balls. Asshole. #stlblues— Daniel Grzeskowiak (@Danny_Grz) May 9, 2013
Fuck the fucking Kings. Little bitches. Go blow something. Blues let you have that one. Smh.— Jessica Sisler (@jessisisler) May 9, 2013
— Bruce Ferguson (@BrucetheFerg) May 9, 2013
Fuck you voynov, fuck you kings, fuck life, fuck fucking everything#badday#badgame#FUCK— kevin feldewerth (@KFeldewerth) May 9, 2013
Who the fuck is slovo voynov never even heard of him Elliot but yet he scores on you #Wtf #KillingMeBlues— Kaaleb Moorefield (@ShredderKB) May 9, 2013
"Fuck L.A., I hope the aliens destroy the entire city, especially Jonathan Quick."— helen. (@lohauu) May 9, 2013
"OK then."
So pissed... I wish the blues could beat these stupid fucking clowns... Jonathan quick is a little girl...— Travis Pruitt (@TPru15) May 9, 2013
Oh man! Totally got him there!
@stlouisblues This is a fucking joke!!! Retard fucking coaching!!! Why the fuck are we starting @kidells1?!?!? #fuckingstupid #embarrasing— Tyler Powell (@TyPo41) May 9, 2013
Bernier would have stopped that.
TRH Three Stars of the Night
3. Jonathan Bernier
Five games into the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs and everyone's favorite Kings goaltender continues his torrid postseason play. Despite the egregious Vezina snub, Bernier keeps chugging along. He's yet to allow a goal and hasn't lost a game in the playoffs. Yet, Darryl Sutter refuses to play the obvious best goaltender on the club. Masterton-worthy all around, indeed.
2. Darryl Sutter
Darryl Sutter is a wise, wise man. twitter.com/Indiana_Matt/s…
— Indiana Matt (@Indiana_Matt) May 9, 2013
1. JMFC
The likely #NHLCyYoung winner provided another big boost in the Kings 3-2 win. His two goals in Game 5 give him three total in the series. And in true Carter form, he's yet to record an assist. All is right in the world as the series shifts back to Los Angeles on Friday night.
PumperNicholl is a lifelong LA Kings fan and actually learned how to speak English from Bob Miller by watching LA Kings games... and the Police Academy movies. You can follow him on Twitter.