Thx Bud Podcast

A slump? Already? Sort of. The Kings have gone 0-4 on their road trip thanks to uncharacteristic play. Jordan Nolan also decided to get suspended. On the bride side, both Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik are back and looking real good.

The LA Kings have won every game they've played this week, closing out their home stand 6-0. Diane and Chanelle are still praising the magic of Tanner Pearson, Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, and Jonathan Quick. It also doesn't hurt that the whole team's getting their possession game together finally. Oh, then it's time to get weird and talk about being adopted by Kings players.

TRIGGER WARNING: This entire episode discussess domestic violence and includes both the police statement on the details of the Voynov case so far as well as a brief personal account of experience of family violence. Like all of Kings and NHL fandom, we’ve followed the news today and wanted to talk acknowledge and talk about domestic violence both in US sports and globally. If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224. Counselors are also available to chat via thehotline.org. Safety Alert: Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet usage might be monitored, the NDVH recommends calling the phone number.

Wins! The Kings have accomplished some wins, even though a lot of their play is still looking pretty rough. Chanelle and Diane celebrate the bright spots, question the power play, and then cheer about Lombardi bagging Jake Muzzin for 5 more years.

Same old LA Kings doing the same old things. After a heart-warming banner ceremony to celebrate being the 2014 Stanley Cup Champions one final time, the Kings got off to a lackluster start to their season. Chanelle and Diane wallow in the good and the annoying, and then take time to show love to former Kings-related players around the league, including Panthers captain Willie Mitchell and Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Brandon Kozun.

Diane and Chanelle are back from Frozen Fury and ready to talk about the new LA Kings season! After going 5-0-2 in preseason games, the team looks ready to take on the Western Conference much healthier than a lot of other teams. Chanelle and Diane run through who's hurt (guys like Jordan Staal) and who's looking good (Jamie Benn), laugh at the Sharks, and determine how the Kings stack up against competition. NOTE: Diane's mic is a little wonky to start, but that gets corrected about 4 minutes in.

Summer's almost over! And instead of starting up with regular episodes, Chanelle and Diane reunite for a late summer catch-up session before things get crazy in October. Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty have been getting a lot of praise around the league for their work last season, and Jake Muzzin's still generating some buzz, too. Yet, Mike Richards remains the King under the most pressure heading into 2014-15. If he stays in a bottom six role, can a prospect like Andy Andreoff really crack the lineup this year? Oh, and the rapid disappearance of hockey bloggers was the most unexpected news of the offseason.

We're closing in on a month since the LA Kings became the 2014 Stanley Cup Champions. Since then, the NHL Entry Draft has come and gone. Teams have also snatched up free agents. Chanelle and Diane check in on a hot desert day to talk losing Willie Mitchell and Linden Vey, signing Marian Gaborik and Matt Greene, and reveal how the Kings scored on the New York Rangers one more time. Plus, with the playoffs over, they have more time to praise great moves by other teams and laugh at the Washington Capitals.

2014 Stanley Cup Champions!! It took 26 postseason games, but the LA Kings have survived the two-month battle. Martinez scores the game-winner in double overtime, defeating the New York Rangers and earning Los Angeles their second Cup in three seasons. It's good to a King. Chanelle and Diane celebrate the win, the season, and wax all kinds of affectionate about the team and fellows fans. KINGS WIN.

Womp, womp -- not a sweep. The LA Kings outshoot the New York Rangers 41-19, but Lundqvist decides to take his turn to steal a game, keeping the Rangers hopes alive. Back to LA for Game 5 everybody goes.

One! Win! Away! The LA Kings beat the New York Rangers to take a 3-0 series lead, this time on the back of goaltender Jonathan Quick. Rangers skaters outshot the Kings, but Quick shut the door. Kyle Clifford picked up his third point of the series, and Mike Richards even found the back of the net. Nothing but happiness from Chanelle and Diane.

LA Kings win, 5-4 in double overtime! They take a 2-0 series lead against the New York Rangers. This game had a little of everything: another comeback, some goal controversy, some big saves, and of course, just over 30 extra minutes of playing time. Chanelle and Diane talk about the effectiveness of Ryan McDonagh vs Anton Stralman, Jeff Carter's defensive game, goaltender interference, and whether the Kings should be worried about not earning any regulation leads.

So it begins! The LA Kings take the first game against the New York Rangers and give themselves a 1-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final. Kyle Clifford finally, surprisingly, manages to finish on a scoring opportunity, and then Mr. Game 7 pulls out a little magic early.

7-7-7! They've done it. The LA Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime, and now they're going to the Stanley Cup Final! Chanelle and Diane rejoice about what went right in game 7, what awaits in New York, and who's the frontrunner for the Conn Smythe trophy.

UGH, ANOTHER GAME 7. The Kings lose again despite dominating most of the play, so now they get to participate in their 21st game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let's hope they hit the jackpot.

Not quite yet. The LA Kings make it to overtime but can't close out the series against the Chicago Blackhawks. Now they're back on home ice for game 6. Chanelle and Diane pick apart where they flubbed game 5 and what to clean up to go to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Chicago Blackhawks are reeling! Special teams help the LA Kings win 5-2 in game 4. Jake Muzzin had an especially great night. Now the Kings have a chance to eliminate the Blackhawks and head back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in three seasons.

Trevor Lewis made Chanelle scream in frustration twice during this game, but the overall outcome was worth it. The LA Kings followed up a huge comeback win against the Chicago Blackhawks with another win on home ice. LA takes a 2-1 series lead thanks to another 3+ point night from Jeff Carter. Plus, the return of Slava Voynov!

Third period steal? Don't mind if they do. The LA Kings score five goals in the final 20 minutes of the game to steal Game 2 in Chicago. Now they head back to Staples Center with the series tied 1-1. Jeff Carter scored half the goals to complete his second playoff hat trick!

Most people probably anticipated that the Kings would drop game 1 in Chicago, but it was a lot more positive than expected. Strong games from Mike Richards and the Pearson-Carter-Toffoli line leave Chanelle and Diane feeling optimistic about the series.