Monarchs get help
As expected, the Kings have assigned Patrick O'Sullivan, Lauri Tukonen and John Zeilier to Manchester for the end of the AHL regular season and playoffs. It will be interesting to see how O'Sullivan performs back in the AHL. He took a big step forward when the Kings recalled him in midseason, so now he should be able to resume his strong play against weaker competition.
I know I said the roster analysis would begin today, but it will be tomorrow instead, since I find myself at Dodger Stadium today writing two stories.

Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at 

any reason as to why Joe Piskula isnt being sent down?
Monarchs were also forced to recall Yutaka Fukufuji (and less than forced, but also recalled Bryan Schmidt, a defenseman who has been on the 'Narchs most of this season) from Reading.
LaBarbera is listed as "week to week (lower body injury)" on the Monarchs web site.
Piskula was signed to an NHL contract. In order to be eligible to play for Manchester in the AHL playoffs, he would've had to have been signed to an amateur tryout contract by the Monarchs.
So...Piskula (like Johnson) isn't eligible.