Monarchs underway
At the moment, Manchester leads 3-1 late in the first period behind goals by Peter Harrold, Oleg Tverdovsky and John Zeiler. To tie up a couple loose ends, Brian Boyle is indeed in the lineup tonight and Barry Brust is in goal, so Jason LaBarbera's knee is still an issue. As a side note, the game is being officiated by Jamie Koharski, son of NHL ref Don Koharski.

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 

So what would Jamie Koharski's breakfast pastry of choice be? My guess is the Bear Claw. :)