Enough of the "Royal Rebound" already! I understand they are playing Dallas again, but that was over a week ago. This franchise is desperate for anything historic.

Jason LaBarbera needs to have another awesome performance in goal tonight if the Kings hope to be in this game. Labs made 37 out of 38 saves on Saturday against the Coyotes, and the one shot he let in was on a 5-on-3 power play. The offense needs to start clicking.

One thing that doesn't need to happen is the juggling of lines again. Breaking up the DAM line took all the steam out of the already anemic offense. However, Crawford wouldn't have to do that if the second and third line would get on the ball and put the puck in the net.

Nagy draws a penalty, when he is dragged down from behind. So the 11th-ranked PP unit of L.A. takes on the 6th-ranked PK unit of Dallas. And the Kings are turned away in their first bid with a man advantage.

Handzus goes limping off the ice, as he gets hit in fron to fhte Dallas goal. I was afraid it was his knee, but it looks as if he just got the wind knocked out of him.

The Kings have outshot the Stars in the first, 9-4. And they seem to be playing a little more focused. The Kings also lead in hits, which is a pretty good indicator of how hard the Kings are playing.

First period: Kings 0, Stars 0

The Stars come out and have several good opportunities on goal, but LaBarbera turns them away. Modano shoots between Willsie's legs, and almost gets his own rebound, but it's scoop up and out. Jason wasn't really challenged in the first, and Dallas looks to change that this period.

Niskanen gets called for holding, and the Kings get another opportunity on the PP. It seems there's more of a concerted effort to try and get the blue line into the game. Maybe the defense could provide a little offense. The Kings do get several chances for the point, but Dallas goaltender Mike Smith stops them all.

Willsie is being tried on the line with Handzus and Nagy, and they have shown some offensive push this game. The Kings have shown the same offensive focus in the second, as they lead in shots on goal. But they are lacking in the faceoff circle.

Handzus gets called for tripping, and Dallas gets some more solid chances. But it wasn't until the Handzus penalty was killed before Ott redirects a puck past a diving LaBarbera with less than two minutes in the second to put Dallas on top. The goal is typical of this game. A grinder pops one in, as both teams scramble for control.

Second period: Stars 1, Kings 0

Handzus, Nagy and Willsie get the start on the third period as action starts. LaBarbera makes a point-blank save, as Lehtinen hammers it on net. The DAM line is out there now, after two periods of being seperated again. And any time the Kings have a decent shot, one of those three guys are on the ice. All three of those guys have 2 shots on net thus far. On the flip side, Nagy, Handzus and Armstrong have no shots.

The Kings have no forecheck right now, allowing Dallas to set in right in front of the net, and register a few shots. But L.A. is able to go on the power play again, when Niskanen hooks a King in the corner. The DAM line gets a good shift for the first 1:30 of the PP, cycling around, and passing around well. Blake had a few drives, Visnovsky also has a one-timer that is blocked.

The Kings get three shots on the power play, making them o-for-9 on the night with the man advantage.

Nagy and Willsie get the best chance so far fort the Kings, with a rare two-on-one rush. Nagy shoots, but it is slurped up by Smith. Kopitar gets double-shifted by Crawford, to try and jump-start any offensive spark from the team. But it's looking more and more like last game.

Stuart tried to fire it in the Dallas zone, but it's blocked, and Hagman receives a pass behind the Kings' defense and pops it over LaBarbera for the Stars' second goal.

Handzus gets another hooking call, and dallas goes back on the power play. And it's official, the Kings are in a slump. Lehtinen scores right in front of LaBarbera for a power play goal.

Now the Stars look content with playing it safe, not taking any chances, and continuing to put pressure on the Kings. Dallas has outshot the Kings almost two to one in the third.

The Kings get shut out for the first time since 2002, and the Kings are circling the drain right now. The only consistant part of tonight's game was in goal. LaBarbera has played great the last two games, but just isn't getting the offensive support from the club.

Final score: Stars 3, Kings 0

Posted by Matt Murray at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kopitar, Nagy and Brown start the game off, with Anze getting a few chances from the get-go. Cammalleri moves down to the Frolov/O'Sullivan line. It looks like Crawford is picking up where he left off last game, mixing the lines, to see if he can shake up the lines and start getting some of the forwards going.

Phoenix seems to be the perfect fit to do this, since they have had problems scoring the last two games, In fact, they have been shut out twice in the last three games against the Sharks. One thing they have decided to do to claim Ilya Bryzgalov off of waivers from Anaheim. The Kings were rumored to be one of the teams interested, but they were too far down to be serious contenders for Bryzgalov. But he may have been a nice addition for L.A., who are third from last in goals against in the entire league.

Ed Jovanowski gets a penalty, putting the seventh-ranked power play unit of the Kings on the ice. Remarkably, Frolov, Nagy and Armstrong are out there for the first shift, with the DAM line spelling them midway through the shift. The Coyotes kill the penalty, but not without some serious pressure.

After Jovanowksi's penalty, the Coyotes start peppering LaBarbera, catching up with L.A. in shots. But L.A. has seemingly been in the Coyotes' zone most of the game thus far. Kopitar and nagy almost hook up for a pretty goal, but the puck flies away. Nagy seems to be energized on the top line, but has yet to get a shot.
Visnovsky still seems out of sorts out there. Perhaps maybe Crawford should juggle the defensive pairings. Lubo and Blake have been paired seemingly all season. Maybe it's time to put Visnovsky down on a line with Stuart or Modry, and elevate Stuart or Johnson. I'd like to see Johnson and Blake out there, but that's the fan in me talking. Both players play similar styles, and may not match well on the ice.

Brian Willsie gets called for holding with just over two minutes left, and the Kings go on the PK. Blake and Modry are paired on D for the first shift, with Stuart and Johnson out there on the other line. Stuart and Carcillo get a little fiesty in front of the net, as play starts. A glove flies through the air, as play stops. But nothing happens, and L.A. has killed the penalty to Willsie.

First period: Kings 0, Coyotes 0

What is it with early 80s metal bands and arena music? So far, I've heard Ozzy, Motley Crue and Van Halen, all circa 1985. Deiter Rhule busted out U2's Vertigo, but that's not the same. If we are going to head in that direction, I suggest we replace the Kings Drummers with a monster drum kit and Tommy Lee, hammering away from the rafters. It can lower down, and Tommy could just pound away.

Zbynek Michalek gets two minutes for delay of game. I just have to say, I was going to name my firstborn Zbynek. But I got voted down. Too bad, because that would have made a great girl's name. It just rolls off the tongue.

I'm not sure what the deal is with Stuart. At minus-6, he needs to step it up more defensively. At times, he seems a little out of sync with the rest of the guys on the ice. Then, there are glimpses of brilliance.

The Kings get a penalty, when Visnovsky gets called for holding. And no sooner do David Courtney announce it, Rob Blake gets called for hooking. So, we have a 5-on-3 going for close to two minutes. Handzus is out with Johnson and Stuart. But Shane Doan connects on a one-timer, bouncing the puck off the back of the net, to put the Coyotes on the board. So now, O'Sullivan joins the other PKers, and kills off the Blake penalty.

LaBarbera has been money this period, keeping the Kings in it. So far, the Coyotes have outshot the Kings in the second period so far, and with the exception of being down two guys, Jason has played well enough to keep it a one goal game.

Niko Kapanen gets whistled for holding someone's stick, and the Kings go on the attack. The DAM line is out with Blake and Lubo, who play catch along the boards a little too long, causing some boo-birds to come out.

The second period is one I'd like to forget. Uninspired hockey, to say the least.

Second period: Coyotes 1, Kings 0

Kopitar is now out with Moulson and Brown, but the team isn't playing with a sense of urgency. No shots in seven minutes just shows me something is awry. Call me kooky, but is putting Moulson on the line with Kopitar the best fit? I mean, the kid's got skills, but I don't think he's quite there yet.

Crawford must've felt his ears burning, because he reunites the DAM line, and they get their first real chance on goal. Nagy is back with O'Sullivan and Willsie. Johnson and Visnovsky have a shift together. Stuart was in the right place at the right time, as he deflects a backhand shot on an empty net to avoid another Phoenix goal.

Crawford has shortened his bench, as the DAM line is getting on the ice every other shift.

I tink I have figured out why the 80s metal bands are played more than anything. Audioslave's Woman comes on the Staples Center speakers, and it sounds very distorted. It's the speakers, they can't handle the rock!!!

LaBarbera makes a diving save to thwart a Phoenix rush. He's made 37 saves so far, and we still have 6 minutes to go.

The Coyotes have another delay of game penalty, allowing the Kings to go up a man. And the DAM line is out there. The fans are begging for something, anything to happen, in this lackluster game. Chanting ensues, as well as lots of clapping, without any prompting from the P.A. But a lot of nothing happens, as the man-advantage is gone.

Slowly, the Kings are tallying shots. Jovanowski gets another penalty, and the Kings pull LaBarbera for a 6-on-4 attack. But Visnovsky can't hold the puck in, killing the momentum the Kings had. The game ends in a chorus of boos.

Third period: Coyotes 1, Kings 0

Posted by Matt Murray at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The sparce early Staples Center crowd is treated to a video of the Kings' remarkable comeback against the Stars last week. But the on-ice pre-game video is different, now including the Ducks (?) in it. I guess to promote the cross-zip code rivalry. I give the name two weeks.

O'Sullivan, Frolov and the rookie Moulson get the start, with Blake and Visnovsky on defense. The Kings start J.A. Aubin in goal tonight, marking the first time we have two Jean Sebastiens squaring off in goal. The Ducks start May, Perry and Getzlaf, with Pronger and Beauchemin on D.

The Kings have Modry and Preissing paired on defense, with Stuart and Johnson as the other pair.

As Pronger touches the puck for the first time, the still-sitting crowd rain down the boos. Pronger, of course, leveled Handzus, after he shot on goal after the horn had sounded last game. However, it was a warranted check. But what do you expect from Kings fans?

Moulson gets the gate for interference, putting the Kings on the penalty kill. Thing is, the Ducks PP has been anemic at best at season. Perry has a great chance to put the puck in, as he tries to rediect a pass past Aubin, who blocks it well. Aubin then snaps a Perry shot to stop play. O'Sullivan has a nice hit on Getzlaf, which gets a smattering of applause.

The hits are coming fast and furious now, as May and Johnson have to be separated. Moen tries to smack Cammalleri into the boards, but Cammy deftly avoids him. The Kings have more hits than shots so far in the game. They've only registered three shots, and they weren't solid chances.

The Kings get a power play, when Drew Miller gets caught slashing.The Kings get a real good shift out of Armstrong, Frolov and Nagy, Stuart and Preissing. The Ducks are able to kill the penalty, but then Kopitar takes the puck at center ice and wrists one in between Giguere's pads for his eighth goal to bring Staples Center to their feet. Cammalleri and Blake get the assists.

Handzus, Zeiler and Frolov have now been named the Z-Unit. Zeus and Zeiler are the main reasons for that. We go four a side, when Zeiler and Perry have off-setting penalties. Visnovsky gets a shot off past a diving Beauchemin, as the puck rebounds off Giguere's pads. It was a pretty remarkable shot, considering how fast it was.

The Kings have outshot the Ducks 11-3 in the first,many of those came on that first penalty. The Kings have been keeping the pressure on and they lead after one. And we switch sides.

First period: Kings 1, Ducks 0

Perry scores a goal to tie the game with less than a minute gone in the second. The Ducks have come out with some good forechecking, keeping L.A. on thier heels.

Thornton is on the Z-Unit, with Frolov now with Nagy and O'Sullivan. The Z-Unit draws a penalty when Beauchemin gets the hook for hooking. (O.K., that was stupid.) You know what else is stupid? A bench minor on the Kings for a second faceoff violation. That has everyone scratching their heads in the press box.

Pronger gets called for high-sticking and Beauchemin gets hammered by Thorntion behind the net and slashs Scott in retribution. So he gets the gate, and the Kings have a two-man advantage. But they can't score.

L.A. takes back the lead, when Brown takes the puck from behind the net, and skates around to the faceoff circle to the right of the goalie, and wrists one past Giguere. The DAM line comes through again, as Kopitar and Cammalleri get the assists.

Preissing gets two minutes for tripping. But O'Sullivan gets run into the boards by Perry, so the Kings will get a mini-man advantage. No, a dwarf will not come on the ice.

During a break in the ice, an advertisment comes on for fans to vote for the All-Star team. But the footage they show is only of Cammalleri. Hmmmmmm, think he'll make the team?

A defensive breakdown, sees Perry skate out of the ice, and receive a two-line pass, and skate in and score on Aubin to tie the game. It's a frustrating thing to see, but not only that Perry scored. It's because IT SHOULD'VE BEEN A TWO-LINE PASS!!! Sorry, but I hate that rule change.

Thornton has some choice words for Carter, and Pronger and Brown exchange paint at the blue line, but no whistles are given. I'm guessing we're going to see some action in the third.

The floodgates have opened up in the second, with both teams unloading 11 shots on goal. The Kings have just dominating in the face-off circle, with Kopitar and Handzus leading the way. Kopitar has won 71 percent of the drops, as Zeus has a 67 percent record in the circle.

Second period: Kings 2, Ducks 2

The glass is replaced behind Aubin, and play starts before anyone is ready. Getzlaf sneaks one past Aubin to put the Ducks up, 3-2. Perry and Pronger get the assists. It was apparent that Aubin had lost the puck, and two Ducks were well behind the defense. It's times like this when the Kings miss Calder, a defensive presense who would've picked up one of the two guys.

Aubin has taken several chances, skating out far to play the puck. It makes me nervous, as he's played solid early in the game, but almost coughed it up twice now.

Crawford is messing with the lines again, pairing Thornton with Frolov and Modry with Zeiler. The end result? A Duck goal from Brad May. But Craw continues, putting O'Sullivan in between Cammalleri and Frolov, and Kopitar centering Nagy and Brown.

A cross-ice pass is intercepted, and the resulting scramble ends up with a Pahlsson puck in the back of the net. The wheels have come off this club, as they are showing no pep in their step. Maybe they are hoping to recapture that comeback spirit. But three goals in seven minutes may be hard to do.

Fans have begin their descent as we hit the six-minute mark. Aubin has lost his stick, and he's handed a defenseman's stick. Fortunately, the Ducks can't get set up in time before play is stopped.

Frolov skates into the Ducks' zone with O'Sullivan on a quick two-on-one, and fires one on Giguere. the rebound goes goes to O'Sullivan, who knocks it in for his fourth. Moulson gets the other assist.

Things are getting chippy, as Brown starts hitting Ducks like they're going out of style. The Ducks aren't just content with sitting back with the lead, as Dallas did. They are forechecking well, and keeping the speedy Kings in their zone.

Aubin is pulled, and Neidermayer pops one in from Alaska to put the Ducks' lead back up to three.

Third period: Ducks 6, Kings 3

Posted by Matt Murray at 7:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You take the good, you take the bad,

you take them both and then you have:

Download the latest Hockeywood Insider podcast

.

Posted by Matt Murray at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Kings are riding a four game win streak, and the Blue Jackets are coming in winners of three in a row. This being the 13th game of the season, how appropriate that it's on Halloween? Will tonight's game be a treat to watch, or have I been tricked into seeing a Kings' home loss, a rarity this season.

In goal for the Kings is Jason LaBarbera, coming off of being named the NHL's top star of last week. Pascal Leclaire is riding a huge wave of success, already pull ing out 4 shutouts. These two goaltenders meet for the first time.

Jack Johnson has a nice move on a Columbus forward as he tries to get the puck out. He fakes to go around the goal, then pivots the opposite way and skates past the bewildered player. He immediately passes up to Kopitar when he reaches mid-ice, and Kopitar takes it in and gets a shot on net. What a rookie.

Now about the veterans, Calder skates it up and passes to.... no one. He didn't even look where he was passing to when he flipped a backhand to the boards, resulting in a turnover in the nuetral zone.

The Kings seem one step slower tonight. Passes aren't as clean, and they are having a devil of a time clearing the zone. Visnovsky checks Boll into the corner, and seconds later, Boll returns the favor. But coming to Lubomir's defense is Ivanans, who bashed Boll after he cleared the puck. That was enough cause to give Columbus a penalty.

The Kings, aided by the excellent penalty-killing of Hanzus and O'Sullivan, kill the Ivanans penalty. But the Kings are far from getting out of the woods. The Blue Jackets are staying in the Kings zone for a long time. Modin, the former Long Beach Ice Dog, puts on some nifty moves, and is able to get the puck in front to his clamoring teammates. Finally, the Kings clear it, as Crawford, realizing the rough nature of tonight's game has Armstrong, Frolov and Cammalleri out for some strength. The line of O'Sullivan, Willsie and Nagy also playing well.

Kopitar does some fancy footwork of his own, getting Hejda to trip him up and draw a penalty. But the Blue Jackets won't go down without a fight. They are ranked number one in the NHL on killing penalties. And that's what they do this time as well.

The Kings have two long shifts from the O'Sullivan and Kopitar lines, so as they try to change on the fly, the Blue Jackets are able to collect a rebound and skate to a quick 3-on-2. And Chimera pops one over LaBarbera's glove hand for his second of the year. It was a bad angle, but a nice goal, hitting the top of the goal somehow over LaBarbera's big shoulders.

Kopitar and Cammalleri are joined by Willsie on their line, as Brown joins Calder and Handzus. Clearly, Crawford is trying to see how to get some different combinations out there to shake them up.

Going into the first intermission, L.A. has a slight advantage in shots, although it didn't seem like it. But something that does seem right: L.A. with 11 giveaways.

First period: Blue Jackets 1, Kings 0

Kopitar has a good chance to hit Cammalleri deep in the Jackets' zone, but Michael falls to the ice, and Anze's shot is stopped by Leclaire. The ice seems a little slushy.

Sergei Federov puts the puck on net, and the resulting rebound is smacked in by Gilbert Brule. It's tghe type of play that should have either been controlled by LaBarbera or his defensemen. But neither could get possession of the puck long enough to clear the puck, and the Blue Jackets are up by two goals.

Nagy's unsportsmanlike conduct gives Columbus their second power play. The Kings are able to halt the power play, thanks to the steady LaBarbera.

But Jason has a lapse of judgement, as he turns the puck over on successive possessions when he leaves the puck behind his net for his defensemen. The first time, the Kings were able to clear the zone, but the second time cost them. Chimera intercepts LaBarbera's pass, and finds Nash on the wing, who slaps one on net. The rebound goes back to Nash, and he takes another shot. LaBarbera stops the second and clears it to the side, but it goes right to Chimera, who shoots it past Jason for his second of the game. The Kings are looking sloppy tonight, and their win streak will seemingly end tonight.

The Kings are already being outshot by Blue Jackets in the second, 13-2. They just seem out of sync, as the Jackets are capitalizing our their mistakes.

But the Kings finally get on the board, when Calder pops it over Leclair's pads for a power play goal. L.A. with the man advantage when Boll is whistled for hooking. Frolov skates the puck in, but gets it poke-checked away from him, and it goes to Stuart. Stuart soots on net, and the puck bounces around in front of Leclair, who cannot control it. Clader takes several whacks at it, and finally works it in to give the Kings a glimmer of hope. Nagy gets the assist along with Stuart.

The Kings get a two-man advantage, when Malhotra is called for interference, and then 20 seconds later, Foote gets the gate for tripping Nagy. The Kings go with four forwards on the ice: Frolov, Cammalleri, Kopitar and Calder. Visnovsky is the only defenseman on the ice. The Kings sustain good pressure, but the puck just doesn't bounce their way. Visnovsky hits the post, and the power play ends.

The period ends with only 8 shots for the Kings, the majority of which came on the two man advantage. Leclair is the difference in this game, who lost his bid for another shutout in the second. But the Blue Jackets are in the driver's seat as we head for the second intermission.

Second period: Blue Jackets 3, Kings 1

Chimera gets his name on the stat sheet again, this time for a holding the stick penalty. But the Blue Jackets keep the puck in L.A.'s end. That's why they are the league's best PK unit.

The damn doorbell keeps ringing with trick-or-treaters as I'm watching this game, so the third period is a blur. The Kings have several good chances, but come up empty. Rick Nash adds an open netter to make it 4-1. L.A.'s win streak is over, and they head into the weekend with a tough home-and-home matchup with the Sharks. The Kings were able to outshoot Columbus, who haven't had a win in Los Angeles in eight games.

Pascal Leclair now has the same amount of wins as he did last season. An interesting note about Leclair: his first start in the NHL was against the Kings, And guess what the result was? A 2-0 shutout.

So, Los Angeles gets the equivalent of a Mounds bar in their trick-or-treat pail on this Halloween night.

Final score: Blue jackets 4, Kings 1

Posted by Matt Murray at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)