Right: Last season's goal leader Donny Dymond skates around the defense ready to score once again- The 2006-2007 season marked a remarkable season for the Kings. Their 18-2-1-0 record was second best only to the innagural season back in 1998. They were a goal away from picking up the championship, falling to 40" waste in overtime. The summer passed, where the Kings again played great hockey, picking up the summer championship. Anything short of a championship in this 10th anniversary season would be a disappointment--even with better talent and teams they will be facing this season. One of those teams the Kings would face in game 1, with a newly formed Shock and Awe with some familiar faces.

You can say there was a shock for the Kings in the opening minute of their first game of the season. 4:13 into the game, Greg Hennig opened the scoring when his shot deflected down and bounced infront of Kings goal keeper Lennie Lopez and past him for a 1-0 Shock and Awe lead. Hennig would score again before the period would end, and the Kings were facing a two goal deficit in the opening peirod of the the sesaon. In the period, the Kings were assest 3 penalties in a row, giving Shock and Awe numerous chances to score and open up the game. However the Kings would fight off the disadvantages and remain only 2 goals behind.

It wasn't that the Kings didn't play a bad period, however several let downs and bad bounces put them down early in the game. The penalty trouble also prevented the Kings however would battle back and eventually tie up the game. Yet the Kings had 2 more periods to play, and would get their chance to come back on the powerplay with a 2 man advantage for 1:40. Defenceman Justin Goodey got the most of the open ice, as he snuck in back door and completed a beautiful pass from Marc McGinnis, cutting the lead in half at 2-1. The goal came on the 2 man advantage, meaning the Kings would still have over a minute of 5 on 4 powerplay time. However a Kings penalty from Tracy Lytle neutralized the powerplay, evening up the play with 4 o 4 action. Donny Dymond got on the board with a slapshot in the slot, passed the screened goaltender and in the net for a tie game at 2. As fast as the Kings tied up the game, Shock and Awe regained the lead. They finally took advantage of their abbreviated powerplay with Hennig's third goal of the game for the hat trick, putting Shock and Awe back in the lead at 3-2. Once again, the Kings would tie the game up with Scott Delong's first goal of the season, and tying the game up at 3 as the second period came to a close.

Shock and Awe took the lead for the third time in the game 28 seconds in the third period. Just like the entire night, the Kings would have to battle back to try to tie the game, and they had several chances to do so. Halfway through the third, a shot from the point rung off the cross bar, and the Kings came close but still trailed by 1. In the second half of the period, the Kings continued to have chances to tie up the game. They had 2 powerplay advantages and on one of them came their best chance to tie the game. Where the Kings thought they scored the tying goal off the stick of Dan Coleman, the goal was waved off as the puck was redirected from Coleman's stick above the crossbar. The Kings couldn't get that next goal, coming a goal short and dropping their opening game 4-3.

GAME NOTES: A noticeable absence in the line-up was captain Paul Costello. Costello was unable to make the line-up, which could have made the difference in the game. Also absent was Jared Anderson, who will be one of the rotating defenseman with Justin Goodey. Goodey ironically had 2 points this game. His 18 points last season led all defenseman in points. He will not be in the line-up next game... Last years goal leader Donny Dymond was back on the board, scoring the second goal of the game. Its very rare to see a Kings loss with a Dymond goal. The Kings have lost only 2 games with a Dymond goal after reaquring him last season.