Avs-Kings Game 3 Observations
It'll be over Sunday
In the Avalanche’s 30-year history in town, they’d only had two previous playoff series with the Los Angeles Kings. Both went to seven games before being won by the Avs and, no, it won’t be another seven-gamer this time.
The Avs will wrap up their first-round series with the Kings on Sunday, in a sweep that, with my uncanny foresight, confidently predicted before this series started. Meantime, they’ll get two days to luxuriate in the L.A. sun. I would bet dollars to donuts that at least some Avs will have dinner tonight or tomorrow in Manhattan Beach, about a 30-minute drive from downtown L.A.
That was always my hangout spot on off nights there, too, and I saw many Avs players at various restaurants there over the years. It’s a tiny little place, but I won’t be surprised if some players dine at Mama D’s, just up from the Manhattan Beach Pier. It’s an old-school Italian place, with always a line at the front door to get in, but once you’re in, the food and wine are off the charts.
In the old days, you could always find Kings players and many visiting players later at night at local watering hole, Harry O’s. But that joint is closed now.
A lot of people have always asked me: do players drink booze on the road on off nights? The answer is yes, as players love some good wine on off nights. Many say it helps them sleep better, relaxes them and is good for blood circulation.
Of course, players don’t get shit-faced as much as they did back in the day. They don’t want to be photographed looking woozy, for one thing, and nobody thinks being truly intoxicated the night before a game is a good thing. Back in the day, though? Yeah, I saw more than a few players (and coaches) getting shit-faced. But times were different then.
Anyway, on to my Game 3 Observations and Notes:
