NHL fans livid as national anthem is played on harmonicas in LA before playoff game
There was a performance of the national anthem like no other in Los Angeles on Monday night as the NHL playoffs began with the Kings beating the Edmonton Oilers.
Moments before the puck dropped in downtown LA, the Star-Spangled Banner was bizarrely performed on harmonicas by members of the Korea-Town Senior & Community Center.
There was nobody singing the words, meaning the sold-out crowd of 20,000 spectators joined in and belted out the lyrics before giving the rendition a huge ovation.
But while the hockey fans inside the arena clearly approved, it was a performance that was met with derision on social media.
'That was f***ing GOD AWFUL TO WATACH!!!' one fan wrote on X in response to the footage.
'Whoever thought this was a good idea should probably not have a job,' said another hockey fan.
There was a special USA anthem performance in LA tonight by...a harmonica class? �� pic.twitter.com/XkwUijF7yG
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 22, 2025
Plenty of hockey fans voiced their disapproval on socila media after seeing the performance
A different response read: 'Worst US National Anthem I have ever heard...... Harmonica's (sic).......... Really.'
Another fan said it was surprising to hear the anthem sang that loudly in California, posting in response to the performance: 'Entertainment Capital of the World; you never know what you're gonna get!
'What really threw me for a loop was Los Angeles of all cities singing the national album that loudly. I thought they hated their country.'
The performance seemed to fire the Kings up, however, as they raced into a four-goal lead by the second quarter before the Oilers launched a stunning fightback.
But the hosts rallied and eventually won 6-5 with a dramatic last-minute winner from Phillip Danault.
'We could have made it less dramatic, but credit to them,' Kings coach Jim Hiller said after the whirlwind ending. 'We had to do it late.'
It was the first game of the series, so the Kings hold a 1-0 lead before Game 2 on Wednesday night back at the same venue on the road to the Stanley Cup.
Performances of the national anthem have formed a major talking point across the course of the current hockey season.
American and Canadian fans have repeatedly booed each other's anthems amid the ongoing trade war that President Trump has spearheaded.
Trump's desire to make Canada the so-called '51st state' has appeared to inflame tensions further, as well.
One man who was bore the brunt of the political tensions more than anyone is Wayne Gretzky, the Canadian great who is close friends with Trump.
On Monday, Daily Mail reported that a fifth of Canadians think Gretzky should leave Canada for good and stay in the United States due to his ties with the President
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