“Not exactly sure if that’s how you fire up a team before a playoff game,” TNT analyst and retired hockey star Paul Bissonnette had said about the LA Kings’ unique call to arms. However, after a live experience of the Koreatown Senior and Community Center’s harmonica performance, he was sold. And when the Kings sent over a harmonica to the TNT studio, and when the LA Kings sent over a few harmonicas to the NHLonTNT studio, Bissonnette could hardly contain his excitement and immediately burst into an impromptu harmonica banger that enthralled his colleagues. And he wasn’t the only one. The crowd at Crypto.com Arena could hardly get enough of the KSCC ladies when they first made an appearance at the Kings’ home game against the Oilers in Game 1 of the playoffs. And they want more.

The LA Kings’ latest pre-game quirk has become the biggest internet sensation within the hockey community in recent times. After all, the Kings managed to post huge wins in both Games 1 and 2, which happened to feature the harmonica class. And now, as the Kings head back home after two back-to-back defeats at Rogers Place, there’s one burning question: Will the Korean-American harmonica stars be back as well?

In his X post from April 29, Bissonnette has revealed that KSCC’s harmonica ensemble would indeed return for Game 5 between the LA Kings and the Edmonton Oilers. “The harmonicas will be in attendance tonight at Crypto dot com,” the post reads, while stating flatly that only they can help the hosts return to their winning ways.

The KSCC program started seven years ago, while the center opened in 2013, and since then, 50 odd participants have practiced regularly at the Los Angeles center. Earning a name for themselves with performances at the Lunar New Year festivals, Mother’s Day celebrations, and even ahead of a Los Angeles City Council meeting, the group finally got on the radar of the LA Kings this year.

In January, LA suggested hosting a K-Town night and approached the KSCC for a performance at the Crypto.com ahead of the Kings vs Bruins match. Maybe it was the ladies’ take on the Star Spangled Banner that helped the hosts to post a 7-2 victory over Boston. “In a very organic moment, our crowd started singing along word for word. We felt it was a very unique outcome and something that was very engaging and could be something quite impactful for the playoffs,” the Kings told The Washington Post in an official statement. It’s clear that the Kings want them in the arena again and are making sure that they feel welcome. “VIPs are in the building for Game 5,” read the caption of a post on the official LA Kings X account, as the accompanying video showed Donna Lee & Co. pull up to the arena in sleek black SUVs to help them keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive.

LA finished the regular season on a high. With an impressive 48-25-9 record and 105 points, the Kings trailed only the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division before the postseason commenced. Starting their fourth straight playoff appearance with two back-to-back wins at home, it looked like coach Jim Hiller’s boys were on their way to running away with the seven-game series from under Edmonton’s nose. However, things changed once they hit the road, as it was the Oilers’ turn to take advantage of playing at home. Naturally, with things being volatile, fans now resort to the Harmonica Ladies to provide the LA Kings with the virility to forge ahead. But can they?

The LA Kings will need to pull up their socks

The Kings boast two Stanley Cups under their belt, with the last one coming in 2014. However, while the team has made it to the playoffs multiple times since then, they have failed to relive their glory days. And this year, it looks like blowing leads has become a trend that could also end their hopes of reaching the top of the NHL. On Sunday, LA blew off a two-goal lead, as they allowed the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl to score his first career playoff OT goal to tie the series. But this wasn’t the first time in recent times.

Squandering third-period leads has become a major headache for Hiller’s squad. In Game 3, too, they skated into the third period with a lead only to concede four goals, thanks to which the Edmonton Oilers came out of the game with a massive 7-4 win. At the time of writing, the Kings once again let go of their 1-0 lead in Game 5, and by the end of the second period, the score is tied 1-1. But could the harmonica ladies act as a lucky charm again?

It’s not like the LA Kings have been given a hall pass in Round 1 of the 2025 playoffs. If anything, it’s everything but that. While the Oilers did finish the season behind the Los Angeles powerhouse, they aren’t a team you’d be wise to discount. With stars like Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Evander Kane, the Oilers pose an intimidating lineup. And yet, the Edmonton locker room has been wrought with injuries in recent months, making many fans speculate if the ongoing season was “cursed“. But will that curse make its effects felt today? Or will the Kings’ inability to hold on to their lead be their downfall? Share your predictions for the final score with us!