Check out what Kings coach Darryl Sutter had to say (via colleague Abbey Mastracco) about broadcaster Bob Miller, who will take a leave of absence to undergo heart bypass surgery. There’s a more serious comment near the end from center Anze Kopitar.
Check out the latest report from Los Angeles News Group colleague Abbey Mastracco, who breaks down the Kings’ breakdowns in a 4-3 loss Wednesday to the Colorado Avalanche and looks ahead to play after this weekend’s All-Star break.
The Kings on Thursday assigned forward Kyle Clifford to the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League for a conditioning assignment. He had three assists and 28 penalty minutes in 23 games before he suffered a concussion last month. He has been sidelined for 23 games, but recently began skating with his teammates while wearing a protective visor.
The Reign play the rival Gulls on Friday in San Diego.
Key play: Nathan MacKinnon scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 4-3 victory Wednesday over the Kings at Staples Center. MacKinnon scored just after an Avalanche power play expired.
Pivotal performer: Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog scored two goals to help Colorado rally from deficits of 2-0 and 3-2. His second goal, a power-play strike on a 4-on-3, tied the score at 3-all at 7:38 of the third period.
Quote, unquote: “I think our first was strong, pretty slow to start the second, got a little better maybe the last five minutes or so and the third wasn’t very good at all,” said Kings winger Dwight King, who had a goal and an assist. “It was one of those things where we’ve got to be a lot sharper.”
Milestone moment: Drew Doughty scored the first shorthanded goal of his career in the first period and the first by a Kings defenseman since Willie Mitchell on Oct. 28, 2010 against the Dallas Stars. Doughty’s goal gave the Kings a 1-0 lead 9:31 into the game.
Between the pipes: Jonathan Quick returned to the Kings’ net after Jhonas Enroth started in a 3-2 overtime victory Sunday over the San Jose Sharks. Quick appeared Wednesday in his 41 st game of the season. Enroth has played in only nine of 49 games.
Bob Miller, the Kings’ Hall of Fame television play-by-play announcer, will undergo heart bypass surgery and take a medical leave of absence, the team announced Wednesday. No date was set for the procedure and his layoff is to be determined.
“It is unfortunate that I have to miss Kings telecasts, but I have to get this taken care of as soon as possible,” Miller said in a statement. “I know the telecasts will be in good hands and I hope to return to the TV both as soon as my health allows.”
Nick Nickson, the Kings’ Hall of Fame radio play-by-play announcer, will move into Miller’s spot on TV temporarily with Jon Rosen taking over NIckson’s duties on radio. Rosen is the Kings’ in-house reporter on their website.
“Like all Kings fans we wish Bob a safe and speedy recovery,” said Luc Robitaille, the Kings’ president of business operations. “We look forward to hearing his familiar voice on our broadcasts real soon, but it is important that Bob take time to recover as his health is the top priority.”
Wednesday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche airs on NBCSN. In addition, NIckson will not attend the game to attend to a family matter, the Kings said. Rosen will join analyst Daryl Evans on the broadcast on KABC AM-790.
The Ducks on Wednesday sent Shea Theodore, a 20-year-old defenseman, to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League. How long he stays with the Gulls is open to debate. It’s likely that Theodore practices with the Gulls and then plays in Friday’s game against the Ontario Reign in San Diego and then returns to the Ducks in time for Monday’s post-All-Star break practice.
Theodore has scored two goals and six points in 13 games since he was recalled from San Diego. He made his NHL debut Dec. 29 against the Flames in Calgary. He had four goals and 16 points in 27 games to start the season with the Gulls. He was the Ducks’ first-round pick in the 2013 draft (26th overall).
Ducks general manager Bob Murray had this to say Tuesday about Shawn Horcoff’s 20-game suspension for violating the NHL’s PED program: “This morning, we were made aware of the situation regarding Shawn Horcoff. The Anaheim Ducks organization fully supports the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. We will will continue to support Shawn as a player and a person throughout this process. We will have no further comment at this time.”
Horcoff, 37, scored six goals and 10 points, averaging 13:37 of ice time in 45 games. The Ducks are his third team during a 12-year NHL career.
The NHL on Tuesday suspended Ducks forward Shawn Horcoff for 20 games for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Horcoff also will forfeit $357,526.88 in pay, based on his salary.
The league declined further comment.
Defenseman Simon Despres rejoined the Ducks for their practice Monday in Boston after he spent four games on a long-term conditioning loan to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League. Despres hasn’t played for the Ducks since suffering a concussion in an Oct. 16 game against the Colorado Avalanche. He had goal and an assist with San Diego. He remains on injured reserve, however.
The NHL suspended Kings left wing Milan Lucic for Sunday’s game against the San Jose Sharks for roughing Kevin Connuaton of the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of Saturday’s game in Glendale, Ariz. Lucic was penalized for roughing and given a game misconduct at 6:55 of the third period of the Kings’ 3-2 loss.
In addition, Lucic will forfeit $32,258.06, based on his average salary.
Here’s the link to the NHL’s video explanation: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=799406&navid=DL|NHL|home