The Los Angeles Kings continue to stay in the hunt in the Pacific Division and Western Conference standings. As the calendar changes from November to December, the Kings will look to improve their positioning as they play five of their next seven games at home (with all seven coming within the state of California), and don’t leave the western half of the continent until the end of January.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 30
KINGS practice in El Segundo – Although no longer leading the league in scoring, Anze Kopitar does begin the week in the top five in the NHL in points. Kopitar has made the move into the discussion of the league’s elite, but needs to show he can do it without injured Ryan Smyth. In five games since the loss of Smyth, Kopitar has just one assist while generating 20 shots on goal, and hasn’t scored a non-shootout goal since November 9.
Pittsburgh @ NY Rangers – This past Saturday night at The Igloo, Sidney Crosby scored a hat trick on a night when the Penguins were giving away hats (nice touch). But the 8-3 Pens triumph ended with several fights following a borderline dirty hit by Matt Cooke, so look for some old-time hockey tonight at the Garden.
Dallas @ Detroit – Two months into the season, the Stars find themselves five games over .500, and Brad Richards continues to lead the way. He begins the week in the top five in scoring, and is second only to Joe Thornton of San Jose in assists. Another reason the Stars are playing well is defenseman Stephane Robidas, who is second in the league among defensemen in goals scored with seven.
Other games: Buffalo @ Toronto, Washington @ Carolina, Florida @ Atlanta, St. Louis @ Columbus, Colorado @ Tampa bay, Calgary @ Nashville
TUESDAY DECEMBER 1
KINGS @ Anaheim – The first of six meetings between the SoCal rivals takes place in Orange County. This is the 91st meeting between the franchises, with Anaheim leading the series 40-31-19. The Kings have won just nine times in 44 games on the road in the series, and have never shutout the Ducks. Last season, they split the six games (Special shout out to loyal Kings Examiner reader Vic Pfister, my former Montvale Whalers teammate, who will be in attendance). NOTE: If you can’t get to Anaheim, be sure to get to the Kings viewing party at South in Santa Monica, where you can join Ian Turnbull, Marty McSorley, Jim Fox, and members of the LA Kings Ice Crew.
Ottawa @ San Jose – For Senators fans, they will have to wait for next year to boo Dany Healtey in their own building, as this matchup in California will be the only one between the two clubs this season. Heatley has done his part so far for the Sharks, with a league leading nine power play goals accounting for half of his goal scoring. For the Sens, some might suggest the trade was addition by subtraction, as they currently sit tied for second in the Northeast, just one point out of first.
Other games: Columbus @ Chicago, Toronto @ Montreal
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2
KINGS practice in El Segundo – If Anze Kopitar is the MVP of the Kings the first two months, then Wayne Simmonds is the Most Improved Player. He continues to grow into his role on the checking line by adding some needed feistiness. Consider also his continuing offensive growth: last season, in 82 games as a rookie, he scored nine goals and 14 assists; through 27 games this season, he has eight goals and seven assists.
Colorado @ Florida – This matchup is a far cry from the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, where the goaltending play of Patrick Roy and John Vanbiesbrouck was stellar. While no one has yet confused current Avalanche netminder Craig Anderson with Roy, he is still playing at a solid level with a 13-7-5 record and a .918 save percentage. If the Panthers are going to get into the Eastern Conference playoff race, they need to play better at home (3-6-3) – only Toronto has a worse record at home
Vancouver @ New Jersey – Speaking of goaltending, two of the best in the business meet up as Roberto Luongo and the Canucks visit the swamps of Jersey. A few weeks ago at practice, I had an 'entertaining' discussion with a fellow media member about the merits of Martin Brodeur, and if he still deserves to be mentioned among the elite. A look at the numbers for this season: a 2.05 GAA (third best), a .925 save percentage (seventh best), 1317 minutes played (fourth best), and 15 victories (tied for best entering Sunday). In light of the evidence I must agree: his best days are behind him for sure - not!
Other games: Tampa Bay @ Boston, Nashville @ Minnesota
THURSDAY DECEMBER 3
Ottawa @ KINGS – The Senators are one franchise the Kings love to play. In 11 previous trips out here to Hollywood, Ottawa is 1-9-1, and they were shutout in their last appearance at Staples Center in March 2008. In their only meeting last season, Jonathan Quick posted a shutout in a game that was the debut of current Sens head coach Cory Clouston. In fact, the Kings have only lost to Ottawa twice since Y2K.
Anaheim @ Dallas – At the same time that the Kings look to continue their winning ways against Ottawa, the Ducks and Stars meet in a key Pacific Division battle. You can probably count on both Teemu Selanne and Mike Modano to appear on the scoring sheet. Selanne has 21 goals and 23 assists in 49 career Duck games versus Dallas, while Modano has tallied 25 goals and 53 assists in 75 career contests with the Stars against Anaheim.
Calgary @ Phoenix – Do you think anyone in Phoenix will show up to boo Olli Jokinen in the same vein that Ottawa fans would boo Dany Heatley? Hard to imagine that they blame Joiknen for being traded last season to Calgary as a cost-cutting move. By the way, in 44 games for the Flames since the trade, Jokinen has scored 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points. If anything, Coyotes’ fans should be cheering the play of Ilya Bryzgalov, who continues to astound between the pipes with a 2.12 GAA, fourth best in the league.
Other games: Montreal @ Buffalo, Vancouver @ Philadelphia, Florida @ Washington, NY Islanders @ Atlanta, Toronto @ Columbus, Colorado @ Pittsburgh, Edmonton @ Detroit, St. Louis @ San Jose
FRIDAY DECEMBER 4
KINGS practice in El Segundo – We take this opportunity to wish a Happy Birthday to one of the all-time great Kings, Dave Taylor. He still holds the club record for games played with 1,111 and scored 431 career goals. A member of the famed ‘Triple Crown Line’ with Marcel Dionne and Charlie Simmer, Taylor posted consecutive 100+ point seasons in 1980-81 and 1981-82. A former Masterton and King Clancy Trophy winner, his Dave Taylor Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has raised more than a half-million dollars.
Nashville @ Chicago – When the Predators defeated the Kings back on November 7, it served as a springboard for Nashville. Since that win, the Preds are 8-2-0, including victories over San Jose, Columbus, Detroit, and New Jersey. They start the week just four points behind division leading Chicago, despite having scored the second-fewest goals in the league.
Boston @ Montreal – Other than when the Canadiens play Toronto, this is the quintessential rivalry spanning the history of the NHL. It seems this season that if you want to beat the Habs, do so in regulation time. In games decided in overtime or a shootout, the Canadiens are 8-0-2, meaning they are 4-12-0 in games decided in just 60 minutes of play.
Other games: Tampa Bay @ New Jersey, Anaheim @ Minnesota
SATURDAY DECEMBER 5
St. Louis @ KINGS – In an afternoon matinee at Staples, the club is honoring last month’s induction of Luc Robitaille into the Hockey Hall of Fame. As part of a weekend of celebrations, all fans attending the game against the Blues will receive a bobblehead doll of Robitaille, courtesy of San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino. How tough is the Central Division? The Blues are a game over .500 as the week begins with 25 points, more than six other teams, yet they are in last place.
Washington @ Philadelphia – As the week begins, only the Sharks have scored more goals as a team than Washington has. But before you give all the credit to Alex Ovechkin, check the numbers: yes, he has 18 goals, but the club starts the week with 91 goals scored – and Mike Green only has three so far. The unsung heroes for the Caps have been guys like Brooks Laich (nine goals) and Brendan Morrison (eight goals).
Colorado @ Columbus – In former Kings news: the Avalanche placed Tom Preissing on waivers late Saturday. He played in just four games, picking up just one assist with a -6 plus/minus rating. Meanwhile, Kyle Quincey, the other acquired by the Avs for Ryan Smyth this past summer, leads the team in ice time with more than 25 minutes per game. The Blue Jackets need Steve Mason to regain his Calder Trophy winning form of a year ago. He is just 8-6-4 with a 3.46 GAA and .890 save percentage this season.
Toronto @ Boston – Okay, Phoenix fans won’t necessarily boo Olli Jokinen in his return this week, and Ottawa fans have to wait until next season to boo Dany Heatley. But in Boston, expect fans to shower plenty of boos on Phil Kessel in his return with the hated Maple Leafs. Of course, if the Leafs continue to contend with Carolina for the worst record in the league, fans in Boston may wind up thanking Kessel for his defection if it nets the B’s the first pick overall in next year’s draft. By the way, through 12 games entering the week, Kessel has eight goals and three assists.
Other games: Vancouver @ Carolina, Edmonton @ Dallas, Atlanta @ Florida, NY Rangers @ Buffalo, Detroit @ New Jersey, Chicago @ Pittsburgh, NY Islanders @ Tampa Bay, Minnesota @ Nashville, Ottawa @ Phoenix, Calgary @ San Jose
SUNDAY DECEMBER 6
KINGS practice in El Segundo – Later tonight, there will be a huge gala benefit honoring Robitaille at Club Nokia at LA Live. Co-chaired by Magic Johnson, Jerry Bruckheimer, and David O’Connor, the dinner and show will benefit Echoes of Hope. Click here to get more information about this spectacular once-in-a-lifetime event.
Detroit @ NY Rangers – One of just two games on the docket to end the week takes place at MSG. The Red Wings, ravished by injuries, are just trying to tread water right now in the tumultuous Central Division. Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom, and Pavel Datsyuk, have combined for 26 goals – the rest of the Wings have scored a combined total of 46.
Other games: Ottawa @ Anaheim
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