Big season for California hockey

Could there be history in the making? It’s often been discussed that since the Anaheim Ducks joined the NHL in 1993, the Kings and Ducks have never made the playoffs in the same season. The Kings made it in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2010, while the Ducks made it in 1997, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. There’s still even a slim chance that the teams could meet in the first round of the playoffs. A reminder that tonight’s game is being televised on KDOC (channel 56 for many, but check your local listings), and Nick Nickson and Daryl Evans will still have the call on 1150-AM and affiliates. Terry Murray is no stranger to rivalries, from his days in Philadelphia, and Murray said he would welcome having the Kings and Ducks in the playoffs in the same season (not to mention the San Jose Sharks, making it a California sweep…).

MURRAY: “I think it’s going to be great for hockey in Southern California. You go back into the days of the Stanley Cup Finals team here, with Gretzky, and I think it had a tremendous impact on the youth of the game. It will be the same way with both teams getting in, maybe in a playoff series against each other. … We’ve got great fans here. They’ve been giving us tremendous support over the last couple years, and I think it would be the icing on top of the cake.”