Dodgers Blue Heaven: Saturday was Dodgers Night at the LA Kings Game -- Once Again I Did Not Win a Jersey

Thursday, February 08, 2018

Saturday was Dodgers Night at the LA Kings Game -- Once Again I Did Not Win a Jersey

The only thing better than seeing the Kings win a game at home is to see them do on Dodgers Night.

This past Saturday they hosted their annual Dodgers Night event at the Staples Center, and this time every fan in attendance received a freebie. Check it out below. It's a co-branded drawstring backpack. In years past they would only give out a Dodger related gift to those who purchase a special ticket package for the game -- much like what they do at Dodger games for events like Star Wars Night.

This evening they faced off against the hated, and currently terrible, Arizona Coyotes, on the ice, but before they dropped the puck the Kings took their pregame skate wearing a special jersey that would be auctioned during the game in benefit of the Kings Care Foundation. Check out my pics from the skate below. Click on any pic to embiggen.

BTW, I did my best, like every year, to win one of these awesome jersey's. Unfortunately, as you'll come to find out, I am woefully too poor. A complete rundown of the auction prices is at the very bottom of this post.

Check out the Kings cosplaying as the Dodgers above and below.

Unfortunately, my pics don't do these jersey's justice. Below is a close-up view, so you can really see it in all its majesty, via Bailey's twitter.

(Pic via @BaileyLAKings on twitter)

As always, there were plenty of fans along the glass to check out our newest boys in blue. The goalie below is backup Darcy Kuemper -- although, he's looked like a #1 goalie of late. To his right is team captain Anze Kopitar.

Below is two-time Stanley Cup Champion goalie Jonathan Quick. He has not been very good recently. For whatever reason, a giant gaping hole has emerged between his pads (the five hole) that has lead to seven loses in his last eight starts.

Below is All-Star defenseman Drew Doughty. I don't think anybody has more fun on the ice than this guy. He is known as a chatterbox, and is prone to heckling opposing players. Heck, he has this high-pitched yelp -- that you can hear from the upper reaches of the barn -- that he screams when he feels especially ornery.

On the bottom left is Trevor Lewis, and on the right is former team captain Dustin Brown. Brownie had struggled on the ice the past couple years, but seems rejuvenated this season. He already has more points than he had all of last season, and it figures he'll reach levels he hasn't seen since the Kings first Stanley Cup run in 2012.

I see you too Adrian Kempe, #9 (below).

One of the unique features of this Dodger jersey is the three stripes along the sides (as seen below). I don't recall seeing that in past jersey's.

And now for the ceremonial puck drop. Look closely, as the special guest this evening is fan favorite Kiké Hernández. Below is a look at my view from the nosebleed section.

The pic below is Kiké getting ready for him moment on the ice, pic via @Dodgers on twitter.

(Pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

Below is something I needed to share before moving on to the Dodger jersey auction. Check out Kings winger Tyler Toffoli giving Kiké an on-ice kiss. Apparently, Tyler knows the Dodgers very well. Per Josh Cooper at NHL.com:

Toffoli, who is from Scarborough, Ontario, has become a big Dodgers fan convert since moving to Los Angeles. His fiancée works for the team and Toffoli has found joy in frequenting Dodgers games over the summer months. He has also struck up a friendship with Dodgers third-baseman Justin Turner, whose wife is friends with Toffoli's fiancée.
...
"I got to know a couple of the guys. It's one of those things I want to see them do well and being in LA it's obviously really cool when another team in LA is doing well," Toffoli said.

A budding bromance between @tytoff16 and @kikehndez?? 😘

...we're so sorry you had to find out this way, @redturn2. pic.twitter.com/s2auMBypfO
— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 4, 2018

As for the game itself, the Kings murderized the Coyotes, 6-0. No doubt everyone came home in a happy mood.

Well... Almost everybody.

As you may know, for years I've been trying to win one of these Dodger-Kings jersey's, but deeper pockets than myself keep showing up.

For instance, #5 Christian Folin below is far from a superstar, but his jersey sold for $1,100. Kuemper's jersey sold for an unbelievable $1,675. Of course, it helps that Corey Seager (#5) and Cody Bellinger (#35) wear the same numbers.