The aftermath of the LA Kings’ Game 4 loss to the New Jersey Devils Wednesday night was calm considering the team gave up the chance of an at-home sweep in their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1993.
Four arrests were made outside of Staples Center immediately after the game, according to Officer Karen Rayner with LAPD.
One person was arrested for shoplifting at ESPN Zone, another for being drunk in public, and two for misdemeanor battery, Rayner said.
NBC4 cameras captured a man wearing an LA Kings t-shirt being taken into custody outside of the ESPN Zone. Police later said that man was cited for having an open container of alcohol. When asked to put it down, police said the man tried to run.
LAPD Cmdr. Andy Smith called the few arrests made "terrific" for a night when tens of thousands of people descended on Downtown LA.
Even Devils fans were impressed by the controlled Kings crowd.
"Most of the people have been really cool…they respected me for wearing it," one Devils fan said, referring to his team jersey.
A larger problem near the Staples Center seemed to be scalpers promising ticket-less fans they could get them inside.
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"The first guy came up to me and said he had just been ripped off of $400 buying one ticket," Smith said. "As I was talking to him, a second guy walked up to me and said, 'Hey, I just gave a guy $1,400 for three tickets, tried to get into the box office with my family and I couldn’t get it.'"
LAPD officers were out in force, on foot, in cars and on bicycles, Wednesday night as the Kings returned to the Staples Center for their second home game of the series.
Kings lead the series 3-1 and return to New Jersey Saturday for Game 5, a match Kings fans still have hope for.
"We’re going to take them back to New Jersey and eat them in their own building," said one fan, decked out in team memorabilia. "Go Kings!”
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