NHL fans were livid over a national anthem performance before the Los Angeles Kings’ playoff game against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night.
The Kings went on to beat the Oilers in Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup NHL playoffs.
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Before the puck dropped in Los Angeles, the Star-Spangled Banner was played on harmonicas by members of the Korea-Town Senior & Community Center.
None of the performers sang as the sold-out crowd of 20,000-plus at Crypto.com Arena decided to sing instead.
The rendition did receive a massive ovation.
However, the hockey world didn’t find the performance enjoyable.
Social media users complained about the rendition.
“This is disrespectful,” one commented.
“That was god awful to watch,” another wrote.
“What in tarnation,” a third said.
“Whoever thought this was a good idea should probably not have a job,” a fourth added.
But others expressed their approval of the unusual rendition.
“I quite enjoyed it. I had to rewatch it and play it for my wife,” one commented.
“That was sick!” a second stated.
“This rules so hard,” a third expressed.
The performance appeared to get the Kings off and running (or skating), as they had a four-goal lead by the second period.
The Oilers stunningly tied the game at 5 late in the third period.
But the Kings found a way to win 6-5 thanks to a last-minute goal by Phillip Danault.
The Kings have a 1-0 lead and will host Game 2 on Wednesday at the same arena.
The 2023-24 Western Conference champion Oilers will hope to even up the series.
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