They are indeed. Frankly, if I had to rate the rosters in the Pacific Division, I would probably have San Jose tops, followed by Los Angeles then Anaheim, but I never had any doubts this entire season that the Kings would be the team that would prevail from that division once the playoffs began. Lo and behold, they found a way through.
Glad the Lightning don't have to deal with that team on this side of the NHL. Maybe we'll all be lucky to see them in a year or two. That would be nice. About the only solitary negative about rooting for the Kings was that it would mean, in the space of three seasons, that LA had jumped from zero Cups to one more Cup than the Lightning have won. Whatever. Still better than Marty having more Cups than the Lightning.
I would have to disagree. I could see if it was a situation like 2004 where Ottawa was Tampa's kryptonite and we just got lucky that we didn't play them, but LA beat SJ in a series. I think that proves who has the better team.