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Whatever growth the NHL has had over the past decade-and-a-half, a debt of gratitude is owed to the Los Angeles Kings. The move by Bruce McNall way back when to snag Wayne Gretzky and throw on the black uni's was a big key toward a growth explosion for the league. The Gretzky Kings peaked by coming just an illegal stick penalty away from a Cup win in 199X. That was that. Trash the cool jerseys and years later the Kings continue to wander through the NHL desert while their little Disney brother polishes a Stanley Cup across town.
Skip forward to 2008 and the lowly Kings have to go into Hockeytown and face the red-hot Wings -- the NHL's version of the 1980 Soviet team. Why even bother? Detroit's on an eight game win streak and they are at home. Roll out the third period and the Red Ones are up 3-1.
Bam - Bam - Bam - Bam! Yep, four goals for the Kings in the third and LA snags a 5-3 road win over Detroit? Wow. There's a certain justice in that one.
