SoCal Playoff Series

by AndyHogan14 on Mar 17, 2011 6:53 PM PDT

March 21, 2000

That was the last time the (Mighty) Ducks and the Kings were this close to making the playoffs in the same year. Anaheim ended up missing out, finishing 4 points out of the eighth spot while the Kings earned the fifth seed and were promptly swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Fast forward eleven years into the future, and they still have not made the playoffs in the same year. While Southern California's other professional sports teams have made the playoffs in the same year, there has never been an all SoCal playoff series (or game), including the Angels, Dodgers, and Padres in major league baseball, the LA Rams, LA Raiders, and LA/SD Chargers in the NFL, the Lakers and SD/LA Clippers in the NBA, and, of course, the Ducks and Kings in the NHL.

The question is: Is this the year? Will the Ducks and Kings both make the playoffs and if so, will we finally get an all Southern California playoff series??

Just a review of all SoCal teams in the same sport have made the playoffs in the same year but failed to meet:

Angels/Dodgers: 3 (2004, 2008, 2009)

Angels/Padres: 1 (2005)

Dodgers/Padres: 2 (1996, 2006)

Angels/Dodgers/Padres: 0

Lakers/Clippers: 4 (1992, 1993, 1997, 2006)

Rams/Chargers: 2 (1979, 1980)

Rams/Raiders: 3 (1983, 1984, 1985)

Chargers/Raiders: 1 (1982)

Rams/Chargers/Raiders: 0

Ducks/Kings: 0

Note: in order for the Angels/Dodgers, Angels/Padres, Rams/Raiders, and Rams/Chargers to meet in the playoffs they must advance to their respective championship rounds in the same year.

The closest the Angels and Dodgers came to meeting was in 2009 when they both advanced to their respective league championship series. Both lost in that round and the World Series matchup was NYY-PHI.

The closest the Lakers and Clippers came to meeting was in 2006 when the Clippers had already punched their ticket to the second round while the Lakers led 3-1 in their series against the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix however, won the series 4-3. If the Lakers would have won, it would have been Lakers-Clippers in the second round.

Poll

Ducks and Kings in the Playoffs?

Only the Ducks make the playoffs

3 votes

Only the Kings make the playoffs

8 votes

Both get in, but they will not meet

34 votes

Both get in, and they meet for the first all SoCal playoff matchup

8 votes

53 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Right now the Ducks would have to beat Vancouver in the first round (plausible) and the Kings would have to beat Phoenix (plausible. The Red wings would probably beat the Stars and the Blackhawks-Sharks is a toss up. That means the Ducks would face the red wings in the Second round and the Kings would face either the Sharks or Blackhawks. The Ducks face an uphill battle against the Wings and the Kings face the same against the Blackhawks, but are a toss up against the Sharks. The only possible meeting I see is the WCF, which would be EPIC beyond all measure.

Dump and chase

by cmatthew35 on Mar 17, 2011 8:03 PM PDT reply actions

Depends on where everybody lands, but don’t forget the 2006 postseason — the west’s 6th, 7th, and 8th seeds all won their first round. That could lead to a second-round matchup, in theory, at least.

www.battleofcali.com

by Earl Sleek on Mar 17, 2011 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions