The Instigators: Episode Twenty-One – Royal Pain

Our favorite topic from the Instigators this week centered on the LA Kings losing their top player (Anze Kopitar). While battling along the boards, LA’s leading scorer Kopitar got tangled up with Avalanche defenseman Ryan O'Byrne and fell backward awkwardly on his right leg. Kopitar will be out at least six weeks and the team has ruled him out for the duration of the playoffs. It looked like a fairly harmless play, and it was a very tough break for the Kings. The Kings have had an up and down season, but with Kopitar they at least had a chance to win a round, and maybe get hot and make the conference championship. Without Kopitar and Justin Williams, the Kings have just about no shot. Unless they play Phoenix, then they would have a small opportunity to advance, but LA would still be underdogs. Too bad about their season being ruined right at the end, they are putting together a good team in LA.