Hi, my name is Katie Martinez, and I am a Kings fan. (Photo by Katie Martinez)

It has been three days since the last (preseason) Avalanche hockey game. In my opinion, that is two days too long. I know the guys are tired after a game, and they need a little time to rest and heal and eat and chirp each other on Twitter…but three whole days?! Madness.

Anyway, the “Kings” are in town tonight to take on the “Avs.” Our roster is actually starting to get close to being wrapped up…according to the Avs website, here is the lineup for tonight:

Clearly some of the Monsters are still hanging around for evaluation by the coaches. Allow me to once more point out that Patrick Freaking Bordeleau, a.k.a. “My Monster,” is still on the roster. I’m beyond stoked about this. I sincerely hope he can show the coaches enough upside to be kept around for the regular season…I remain pessimistic, but I would LOVE to see this gigantic bruiser of a forward (who can actually skate and shoot) on a more regular basis. Like I told @BaconCrush the other day…he’s gotta be a better hockey player than David Koci. Can’t we justify keeping him around on that basis alone?

And yes, yes, I’m excited to see (actually, hear, since I don’t have a ticket to tonight’s game) how our offensive lines are coming together. I see so much potential in this group of guys…I can’t wait to judge them off of some regular season games.

Now for my inner turmoil. If you’ve read anything I’ve ever written about hockey you should already know that I have a soft spot for defensemen and fourth line energy types. I also love USA Hockey. Defensemen who came up through the USNTDP are obviously on my radar, as evidenced by the following graphic:

Jack Johnson was the defenseman who initially made me a begrudging L.A. Kings fan. When I started to watch them, I of course saw Drew Doughty and immediately wished he wasn’t Canadian so I could love him unabashedly. The longer I watched him, the less I cared. (Side note: As soon as the Olympics come around again, if DD plays for Team Canada, I will hate him with a passion. My country always takes precedence. Sorry, DD.) I had a few extra dollars one month and loved the t-shirts The Royal Half was advertising, so I bought this great tribute to Drew Doughty.

One summer night I wore it to a Rockies game because it’s purple and I wanted to see how many people would get the reference. Sadly, no one did…one classy gentleman thought it was a testament to how much I enjoyed a specific cup size. I chose not to disavow him of this notion because it clearly made him so happy. I couldn’t stand to take that away from him.

Anyway, I admit it. I am both a Kings fan and an Avs fan. So here’s my hope for tonight’s game: Jack Johnson lays down some big hits and gets in a fight with (but loses to) Patrick Bordeleau, Bordeleau gets a point, Varly stays strong in net, and the Avs put together enough offense to get the win.

Hey, it could happen.

L.A. Kings' Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson, the undisputed stars of Game 2. (Original photos via Wikimedia Commons and Bridget Samuels.)

If you have read this site for any length of time at all, you know of my love for the L.A. Kings…especially defensemen Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson. I love their game, I love that Johnson is a USA boy, and I love that Doughty manages to be a big d-man who lays down big hits but also is a legitimate scoring threat.

Last night’s Kings at Sharks playoff game was like a dream come true for me. And not just a cheesy “mommy bought me a pony” dream, but a solid fantasy that just kept getting better and better.

How did I love this game? Let me count the ways…

1. 12 minutes into the first period, the Sharks’ Ben Eager went to the box for slashing. Doughty and Handzus got the puck to Jack Johnson, who put a slapshot past Antti Niemi. 1- 0 Kings.
2. Three and a half minutes later, Johnson and ex-Av Ryan Smyth assisted on a Drew Doughty slap shot that made it past Niemi. 2 – 0 Kings.
3. In the last five minutes of the second period, Doughty put yet another slap shot past Niemi. Poor guy must’ve felt like he was getting bombarded. 3 – 0 Kings.
4. In the first five minutes of the second period, Doughty and ex-Av Brad Richardson assisted on Kyle Clifford’s goal. The final score was 4 – 0 Kings.
5. The final score meant that Jonathan Quick got a shutout in the playoffs against their in-state rival Sharks.
6. Ex-Avs Richardson and Smyth each had a point on the night.
7. Jack Johnson racked up two points.
8. Defenseman Drew Doughty had four points. Four. I’m not even sure most hockey players can count that high.
9. The Kings managed to even the series up as other offensive threats stepped up to take the place of Anze Kopitar.

So…was the title of this piece referring to my two favorite Kings players, JJ and DD? Or was it referring to Doughty’s pair of goals?

I will leave it to you to decide. I’m going to go grin some more.