Good morning, Philadelphia

Good morning, Insiders, and good morning, Philly.

After five days in Florida, the LA Kings’ 2020 Hot Trip took a frosty detour to America’s most charming and restrained medium-sized burgh, Philadelphia. Requests to move this game to Orlando’s Amway Arena were denied, so it will be continue as scheduled at Wells Fargo Center. You are welcome for this update.

Coincidentally, the LA Kings had a very difficult morning in Philadelphia 26 years ago today. They’d played the Flyers on the 16th, stayed overnight, and before boarding a charter to Dallas woke up to the news that the San Fernando Valley – where a number of Kings families lived at the time – had been struck by a very powerful earthquake.

The ground shook during a bumpy approach into PHL early this morning, sending our stomachs into our throats for a good 30 seconds before our fine Delta pilots gently brought our coach unto this earth with the velveteen touch of a dandy fop. But weather is coming in, and in advance of an inch or two of snow in the city tomorrow (and perhaps double that in surrounding areas), the powerful winds that welcomed us to the city are expected to keep the windchill low and inhospitable today. It was chilly deplaning at 1:45 a.m., as one would expect in Philly in January, and by the time we arrived at our hotel some 20 minutes later, a warm, comfortable bed beckoned us. There would be no going out and looking for trouble.

The LA Kings will practice at 1pm on campus at Penn, where they’d last skated in the 2016-17 season. The Stadium Series jersey reveal will take place then, as will the next rousing edition of WUWTK. Thanks as always for checking in, Insiders. Talk soon.