As the calendar turns from October to November, the Los Angeles Kings plow ahead into the second month of the 2009-10 season with a renewed sense of excitement. The club went 8-4-2 in October, their first opening-month winning record since 2005.
This week, we prepare you for the upcoming schedule of games by saluting Luc Robitaille. The Kings President of Business Operations will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday November 9, and will joined for enshrinement by Lou Lamoriello, Brian Leetch, Brett Hull, and Steve Yzerman.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 2
KINGS @ Phoenix – The last time the Coyotes had a winning record for the first month of the season was October of 2001, a season which marked their last playoff appearance. These two teams have combined to score 18 goals in their first two head-to-head matchups. In his career, Robitaille scored 668 goals over 19 seasons.
Edmonton @ NY Islanders – 25 years ago, the Oilers prevented the Islanders’ ‘Drive for Five’ and won the first of five Stanley Cup titles in seven years. 32 months ago, the Oilers traded Ryan Smyth to the Islanders. This season, both teams are at or above the .500 mark as the week begins.
Other games: Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3
KINGS practice in El Segundo – Following their contest in Phoenix, the Kings return home for the rest of the week to prepare for two home games later in the week. Tuesday’s practice is scheduled for a 12:30 start at Toyota Sports Center, so come have lunch with me and the Kings!
Boston @ Detroit – Two of the ‘Original Six’ get together at Joe Louis Arena. This was the match-up many picked for the finals last season before the playoffs began. In the 2001-02 season, Robitaille’s first with the Red Wings, scored 30 goals, and added 20 assists in 81 games, marking the 12th and final season he scored 30 or more goals in a season. He then won his only Stanley Cup title with the Wings later that summer.
NY Rangers @ Vancouver – 15 years ago, just 5 days prior to O.J. Simpson’s tour of the California freeways, the Rangers ended a 54-year curse by edging the Canucks in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. Alexei Kovalev, who helped the Rangers end the curse, is the only player from either team still active in the NHL, playing currently with Ottawa. In the first of two seasons he played for the Rangers, Robitaille scored 23 goals and 46 assists during the 1995-96 campaign.
Other games: Tampa Bay @ Toronto, Atlanta @ Montreal, Pittsburgh @ Anaheim
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4
KINGS practice in El Segundo – Luc Robitaille first came to the attention of the hockey world playing junior hockey for the Hull Olympiques in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In three seasons, he registered 155 goals and 270 assists in 197 games. In the 1985-86 season, Robitaille amassed 68 goals and 123 assists, and then added 17 more goals in 15 playoff games.
Washington @ New Jersey – Many will be tuning in to see how the best player in the game, Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, fares against the premiere goaltender in the league, New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur. In 23 career games against the great Brodeur, Robitaille only scored three goals and four assists.
San Jose @ Columbus – The Sharks and Blue Jackets are two franchises that are part of the second expansion era for the league, which took place as a direct result of the Kings’ acquiring Wayne Gretzky in ‘The Trade’ back in 1988. Gretzky and Robitaille helped the Kings reach their only Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 1993. During that season, Robitaille scored an NHL career best 63 goals and added 62 assists. Then in the run to the finals, Robitaille added nine goals and 13 assists in 24 games.
Other games: NY Islanders @ Buffalo, Carolina @ Florida, Calgary @ Dallas, Phoenix @ Colorado
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5
Pittsburgh @ KINGS – The Kings play host to the defending Stanley Cup champions. Sidney Crosby will be in uniform for the Pens, but Evgeni Malkin will not. Rob Scuderi helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup this past June. The Kings will wear their third jerseys (all black with the shield logo), and will try to extend their winning streak in these jerseys to seven straight dating back to last season.
Montreal @ Boston – Two longtime rivals renew acquaintances. Both clubs begin the week at .500, looking up at the first place Buffalo Sabres. One reason for Boston’s struggles: Marc Savard is still second on the team in points despite missing half of their 13 games. Former Ducks forward Travis Moen is fitting in well with the Habs: he’s got four goals (one short-handed) and seven points so far this season.
Calgary @ St. Louis – 23 years ago, the Flames and Blues met for a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Blues won Game 6 behind the famous ‘Monday Night Miracle’ goal from Dough Wickenheiser, but the Flames won that series. The next season, Robitaille made his debut with the Kings, scoring 45 goals and 39 assists in 79 games. He was rewarded by winning the Calder Trophy as the best first year player in the NHL.
Other games: Columbus @ Atlanta, Tampa Bay @ Ottawa, San Jose @ Detroit, Vancouver @ Minnesota, Chicago @ Phoenix, NY Rangers @ Edmonton, Nashville @ Anaheim
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6
KINGS practice in El Segundo - The Kings are scheduled to have an 11AM practice.
Philadelphia @ Buffalo – In 1975, the Sabres and Flyers met for the Stanley Cup. The Sabres famously won a game in the fog, but the Flyers won a second straight Stanley Cup title. In each of his first eight seasons, Robitaille scored 40 or more goals. This included three seasons in which he cracked the 50+ goal plateau. On January 7, 1999, the Kings defeated the Sabres on the night that Robitaille scored his 500th career goal.
Chicago @ Colorado – The Blackhawks were the trendy pre-season pick in the West this year, but it’s the surprising Avalanche that entered November with the best record in the conference. One reason for the Avs success has been the play of their young players such as Wojtek Wolski, Paul Stastny, Ryan O’Reilly, and Matt Duchene.
Other games: NY Islanders @ New Jersey, Toronto @ Carolina, Washington @ Florida, Vancouver @ Dallas
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7
Nashville @ KINGS – The Kings host the first of seven Saturday afternoon matinee contests when they take on the Predators in a 1:00 start. Robitaille is the NHL’s all-time leader in goals scored and points scored for a left winger. He is also one of five Kings’ players to have their uniform number retired, and served as team captain for the first 39 games of the 1992-93 season while Gretzky was injured.
Detroit @ Toronto – Hockey Hall of Fame Game – Another ‘Original Six’ rivalry takes place as the Maple Leafs host the Red Wings. In his career with the Red Wings, Robitaille scored 41 goals and 40 assists over two seasons.
NY Rangers @ Calgary – The Rangers continue a western wing in southern Alberta against the Flames. In the 1996-97 season, Robitaille’s second and final season with the Rangers, he scored 24 goals and 24 assists in 69 games with New York.
Pittsburgh @ San Jose – The Penguins continue their own western swing with a visit to the Shark Tank to take on San Jose. In his only season with the Penguins, Robitaille scored 23 goals and added 17 assists in 46 regular season games in the lockout shortened 1994-95 season.
Other games: Buffalo @ Boston, Tampa Bay @ Montreal, New Jersey @ Ottawa, Atlanta @ NY Islanders, St. Louis @ Philadelphia, Florida @ Washington, Carolina @ Columbus, Dallas @ Minnesota, Phoenix @ Anaheim
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8
KINGS practice in El Segundo - As Robitaille prepares for his induction ceremony on Monday November 9, the club prepares for a five-game road trip with a practice in El Segundo.
St. Louis @ Atlanta – Why mention Atlanta in a piece themed with info and stories about Luc Robitaille? Well consider that Robitaille played in eight NHL all-star games, but his being drafted by the Kings in 1984 will mark one of two men the Kings drafted that year heading to the Hall of Fame. The other is Tom Glavine, the longtime Atlanta Braves pitcher. Glavine won 305 games in Major League Baseball, and was actually drafted four rounds ahead of Robitaille.
Other games: Edmonton @ Colorado
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