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Los Angeles Kings News

Florida Panthers beat L.A. 3-1 and jump back into first place
February 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"For a change, the Panthers and goalie Scott Clemmensen didn't get off to a horrible start. It wasn't exactly a quick one or pretty game, either, but two second-period goals by a torrid Sean Bergenheim and slumping Mike Santorelli against stingy Kings goalie Jonathan Quick would be all the offense needed for Clemmensen to lead the Panthers to a 3-1 victory Thursday night in front of 14,929 fans in BankAtlantic Center. The Panthers snapped their first two-game losing streak since late October and ended a seven-game slide (0-6-1) to the Kings dating back to a Nov. 27, 2002 win in Los Angeles. They also avenged an early season 2-1 loss in the Staples Center in which they thoroughly outplayed"
Kings fans may have to be more patient as upgrade chances dwindle
February 7
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Kings beat the clock once this season, scoring the winner against Columbus last Wednesday at Staples Center despite a one-second timing pause late in the third period (more on that later). Now, can they beat the clock before the Feb. 27 trading deadline and make a deal to boost their anemic offense? The Kings' goals-per-game average shrank to 2.09 after they started a six-game trip with a 1-0 loss at St. Louis and 2-1 loss at Carolina. Only the Dustin Brown-Anze Kopitar-Justin Williams line has been reliable. They've gotten none of the secondary scoring they anticipated from Dustin Penner (four goals), Scott Parse (hip surgery) or Simon Gagne (concussion). Mike Richards, their best"
Staples clock problem may not have been the first
February 4
Los Angeles Times
 
"While the NHL investigates the addition of one second to the third period of the Kings' game against Columbus on Wednesday, footage has surfaced of another apparent pause by the clock at Staples Center during a game last month. A video clip posted on the website thescore.com Friday appeared to show the clock stop twice in the final seconds of the Kings' game against Colorado on Jan. 21, once with 3.9 seconds left and again with 2.1 seconds remaining. It went unnoticed because nothing extraordinary occurred that required video review. A pause prolonged the Kings' game against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday, long enough for defenseman Drew Doughty to score with 0.4 of a second left and give"
NHL looks into clock error
February 3
Columbus Dispatch
 
"It's too late for the Blue Jackets to get the point they deserved out of a loss on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Kings, and it will never be known which team would have won if the game had gone to overtime or a shootout. In a season in which points have been difficult to come by, the Blue Jackets will have to settle for a heartfelt apology from the NHL. The league yesterday acknowledged a mistake in allowing Drew Doughty's goal to stand with 0.4 of a second remaining in regulation, a goal that gave the Kings a 3-2 win. "This is a tough pill to swallow for Columbus fans, and we know that," NHL vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said."
Kings' win over Blue Jackets Wednesday, may be result of clock mismanagement
February 3
Los Angeles Times
 
"The NHL is investigating whether human error or a glitch in the clock system at Staples Center was responsible for prolonging the Kings' game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday long enough for Kings defenseman Drew Doughty to score the decisive goal in a 3-2 victory. Colin Campbell, the league's senior vice president of hockey operations, said Thursday he believes the Blue Jackets were wronged because the clock was paused with 1.8 seconds left in the third period and Doughty's goal with 0.4 of a second left should not have been allowed. "In our opinion it was one full second," Campbell said of the stoppage."
Kings 3, Blue Jackets 2: Final-second loss
February 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"It's too late in the season, and the Blue Jackets are too far out of the playoff race, to call this one a heartbreak. But, my, oh my, do the Blue Jackets have a flair for the dramatic, and rarely in a good way. Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty scored in the final second — literally — to give the Kings a 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets before 18,118 in Staples Center. Doughty's shot from just inside the left circle went into the Blue Jackets' net with only 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock. TV replays, aired by Fox Sports Ohio, showed the game clock paused for nearly a full second while the puck was still in play. Had the clock kept running, the goal would have scored after the"
Kings get it done in final seconds to beat Blue Jackets, 3-2
February 2
Los Angeles Times
 
"It occurred to Drew Doughty soon after he slammed himself against the glass to exult over the decisive goal in a 3-2 victory for the Kings over Columbus on Wednesday that maybe he hadn't beaten the clock, and that he'd have a red face when the puck was dropped for overtime at Staples Center. "I didn't know how much time was left. I was sneaking in there and I knew there wasn't a lot of time," Doughty said of the frantic scramble during a power play in the Blue Jackets' zone."
Back to the real NHL games
January 30
Ottawa Sun
 columnist Chris Stevenson
"The days at the beach, as tweeted by Capitals defenceman Mike Green from the Cayman Islands, are over. The neon tans from Las Vegas will now start to fade. The NHL's feel-good weekend here — a resounding success which revolved around the emotional outpouring between Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson and Senators fans — now becomes a fond memory. Ahead is a 30-game sausage grinder that is the rest of the NHL season. "You need the break whether you're here or somewhere else doing something different. This is a part of the season the guys really look forward to, just to recharge the battery," said Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul. "When you get back from this break, you're re-energized and you"
Chara's stars beat hometown hero Alfredsson
January 30
Ottawa Sun
 
"On his big day, Daniel Alfredsson surrounded himself with Swedes. But it was a bunch of Slovak buddies, led by New York Rangers winger Marian Gaborik, who drove Team Chara to a 12-9 victory over Team Alfredsson in front of 20,510 in the 57th NHL all-star game Sunday at Scotiabank Place. While former Senators defenceman Zdeno Chara scored the third-period winner, it was Gaborik, voted the game MVP, who led his club to victory with a hat trick and four-point effort as Team Chara walked away with the bragging rights. "You could see the guys wanted to win," said Chara when asked if he gave his team any instructions with the score tied 6-6 going into the third period. "I didn't have to say a"
Jonathan Quick as tough on himself as he is on opponents
January 28
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Helene Elliot
"It was late in the Kings' 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche last Saturday when goaltender Jonathan Quick finally lost his cool. Quick had been stoic during his teammates' scoring struggles, bailing them out so well that he became only the fourth Kings goalie chosen to play in the All-Star game (Sunday at Ottawa, 1 p.m. PST, NBC Sports Network) and the first since 1981. But against Colorado, his 31st start in which the Kings scored two goals or fewer, Quick could not suppress his emotions. With under two minutes left he took a hard, one-handed slash at Avalanche forward Daniel Winnik, earning a minor penalty. It didn't affect the outcome, but it grabbed his teammates' attention. Right wing"
Who will win? Breaking down All-Star teams
January 27
NHL.com
 
"The draft is over, the rosters set for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game. We now know who will be wearing the white jerseys for Team Alfredsson and the blue jerseys to represent Team Chara. Now it's time to take a look at the rosters and break them down by position. Look for our prediction at the end. FORWARDS Datsyuk and Malkin on the same team is a scary proposition for the opposition. They may be the two most skilled players in the NHL right now. As Chara said, you can put them on the same line and they can be unstoppable, or you can put them on separate lines and they'll still be dominant and "make the line." Team Alfredsson has a lot of talent, but it doesn't have two"
Kings rule listless Senators in L.A. clash
January 24
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Now they have something to think about. Looking to rebound after a 2-1 loss in Anaheim on Saturday, the Ottawa Senators instead got buried 4-1 by the Los Angeles Kings. It was so bad the Kings chased starter Craig Anderson after he allowed four goals on 26 shots through two periods. Alex Auld finished. The Monday night game at the Staples Centre attracted a capacity crowd of 18,118. The Senators play their last game before the all-star break on Tuesday in Phoenix. They'll have a short night, because they lose an hour in time difference travelling from Pacific to Mountain time. But they'll have to find the energy to avoid heading out on vacation on a three-game losing streak."
KINGS 4, OTTAWA 1: Clifford gets Gordie Howe hat trick
January 24
L.A. Daily News
 
"Kyle Clifford sent the Kings to the All-Star break in style, turning in his first career Gordie Howe hat trick en route to a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Monday night at Staples Center. "Me and (teammate Kevin Westgarth) had a bet on whoever got the first one gets a nice Porterhouse at the restaurant of our choice," said Clifford, who finished with a goal, an assist and a fight to earn the "hat trick." "I once did a 52-ounce one, so we'll see if I can top that.""
Kings' Kyle Clifford gets 'hat trick' in 4-1 win over Senators
January 24
Los Angeles Times
 
"Four words almost always bring forth a smile and a knowing nod. Gordie Howe hat trick. That would be a goal, an assist and a fight in one game, and Kings left wing Kyle Clifford pulled off the feat in a 4-1 victory Monday against Ottawa at Staples Center, not even needing two full periods to do so. Maybe somewhere, someplace, the great man himself was kicking back with his remote control, watching and smiling. Then again, Howe mostly lives with his kids in the Eastern time zone, so it would be a little late for him to be watching the Kings and Senators."
Kings goalie Quick's birthday gets ruined by Avalanche
January 22
L.A. Daily News
 
"The Kings sought to get their All-Star goalie Jonathan Quick the perfect 26 th birthday present in the form of an ascent to first place in the Pacific Division standings. But their party was crashed by the Colorado Avalanche, who beat the Kings 3-1 at Staples Center on Saturday night. A familiar foe, former Ducks goalie J.S. Giguere, had 25 saves to anchor the Avalanche. Quick turned away 28 of 31 shots. The Kings uncharacteristically were out-muscled for stretches, particularly during the first 25 minutes. Rookie Gabriel Landeskog finished a brilliantly executed power play for the Avalanche and iced the game with an insurance goal with just under two minutes remaining in the game. "It"
Kings' offense falters again in 3-1 loss to Avalanche
January 22
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Helene Elliot
"One effective line and one goal were not nearly enough for the Kings on Saturday night, a refrain that is becoming all too familiar. Their 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, played before a restless crowd at Staples Center, was another example of their offensive shortcomings and inability to get the balance and depth they need to make an impact in the Western Conference. Worn down by Colorado's physical play in the early going, the Kings mustered four shots in the first period against Jean-Sebastien Giguere and 26 overall. Although it might seem picky to find fault in a defeat that was only the Kings' second regulation loss in 17 games — the last 16 of those under Coach Darryl Sutter —"
Flames edge Kings in shootout
January 20
Calgary Sun
 
"The rematch carried much less hype. Darryl Sutter wasn't backed against a wall and answering questions for dozens of Calgary based reporters. In fact, the Los Angeles Kings coach wasn't at the Staples Center at all until just before the game — the Kings hold their morning skates at the Toyota Center in El Segundo."
CALGARY 2, KINGS 1 (SO): Kiprusoff gets best of Quick in goalie duel
January 20
L.A. Daily News
 
"A contest between two brothers behind the bench had its storyline stolen by the two men between the pipes Thursday at Staples Center, as the Calgary Flames beat the Kings 2-1 in a shootout. Jonathan Quick stopped 24 of 25 shots only to fall to Miikka Kiprusoff, who turned aside 31 of 32. Former Kings forward Mike Cammalleri beat Quick for the shootout winner. "The goalies were great, I guess you expect that when you look at their stats this year," Calgary captain Jarome Iginla said."
For Kings, tiebreaker is no break, 2-1
January 20
Los Angeles Times
 
"This was a quick-and-dirty capsule formula of the Darryl Sutter era, L.A. style, best summed up in 60 minutes. Well, more than 60 minutes and not that quick. If it is the Kings and Sutter … you come to expect games not to end in regulation. The Kings duly followed the script and found themselves in overtime against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at Staples Center. A wide-open, end-to-end overtime could not decide the issue and Calgary won the shootout and beat the Kings, 2-1."
Flames edge Kings in shootout
January 20
Calgary Sun
 
"The rematch carried much less hype. Darryl Sutter wasn't backed against a wall and answering questions for dozens of Calgary based reporters. In fact, the Los Angeles Kings coach wasn't at the Staples Center at all until just before the game — the Kings hold their morning skates at the Toyota Center in El Segundo. Brother Brent of the Calgary Flames, meanwhile, answered questions about the return of Matt Stajan, the idea of possibly playing seven defencemen for a second straight game, and the Taylor Hall incident."
Kings down Canucks in SO
January 18
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Vancouver Canucks want their first periods back. You know, the 20 minutes they used to own. The Canucks have steamrolled teams for much of this season in the opening period, outscoring the opposition 51-28. But like the Anaheim Ducks did on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Kings took the game to the Canucks in the first period en route to a 3-2 shootout victory at Rogers Arena on Tuesday night."
Despite Luongo, Canucks drop 3-2 loss to Kings in S.O.
January 18
Vancouver Province
 
"If the Canucks came out any flatter Tuesday, Dustin Penner would have eaten them. All the Canucks were missing was syrup as they got pancaked in the first period. If you were looking for emotion, focus, competent breakouts, and ultimately a little redemption after Sunday's no-show against the Anaheim Ducks, you saw none of it. Not early, anyway. Only their goalie allowed the Canucks the time they needed to eventually collect themselves, and crawl into a game they lost 3-2 in a shootout."
Dubnyk shines in OT win
January 16
Edmonton Sun
 
"Devan Dubnyk needed a good game. Getting the win was nice too. The Edmonton Oilers goaltender was solid Sunday in a 2-1 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings, turning away 21 shots in the contest. He was named the game's third star. "It was good," Dubnyk said. "I was laughing about it before, I don't know who picked the three stars, but thanks. "The guys didn't give them much, they were right on top of rebounds and forcing them to shoot the puck from the outside which makes it tougher on them. I thought we played 60 full minutes tonight.""
Kings want more after overtime loss to Oilers, 2-1
January 16
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kings' historians will remember the pitfalls and pratfalls on some of these long, cold journeys through Alberta, getting body slammed by the one-two punch of the Flames and Oilers. Previously, even coming away with a split would have been cause for celebration. So why then did leaving Alberta with three out of a possible four points this weekend carry the slight feel of disappointment? The faces and body language of the Kings showed just that shortly after the Oilers defeated them, 2-1, in overtime at Rexall Place on Sunday night. Taylor Hall got the game-winner, on the power play, just 21 seconds after the Kings' Justin Williams went off for high-sticking Theo Peckham."
Taylor Hall gives Oilers 2-1 OT win
January 16
Edmonton Sun
 
"Sometimes all it takes is a little tough love. Or a severe beating. Whether it was the 5-0 butt kicking Anaheim laid on them Friday that got the Edmonton Oilers attention or the very harsh and public whipping that followed, it worked. The Oilers finally discovered the poise, persistence and passion that had been hidden under that mounting pile of frustration and defeat and used it to earn a measure of redemption Sunday night at Rexall Place. Make no mistake And, make no mistake, they needed one. "No matter how long it took, overtime or whatever, we wanted to get that win," said Taylor Hall, who snapped Edmonton's five-game losing streak with his power-play winner 3:06 into overtime to beat"
Darryl Sutter's Kings snap Flames' home win streak
January 15
Calgary Herald
 
"Michael Cammalleri, in his 82nd date with the Calgary Flames, bagged his 40th goal. Brent Sutter coached his 210th game for the Flames — matching perfectly the number of games Darryl Sutter coached for Calgary. Neat numbers. Cool numbers. But hardly the most important digits, of course. Much more critical to the matter at hand was the total of second-period goals allowed by the Flames — three, en route to a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in National Hockey League action Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Poof goes the Flames' streak at home, eight straight dubyas. A regulation win would have pulled the Calgarians to within one point of the Kings in the Western Conference standings."
Kings beat Flames in Darryl Sutter's return to Calgary
January 15
Calgary Sun
 
"Chalk Round 1 up to brother Darryl. If you looked closely enough Saturday night after the Los Angeles Kings' 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome, you might even have seen a rare smile flash across the intense Darryl Sutter's face. In the battle of Alberta's First Hockey Family, it was the elder Darryl who walked away victorious over brother Brent — maybe even a little satisfied after being asked to resign from his post in Calgary a little more than a year ago. Not that he'd admit it. "Non-factor," Darryl said of the Sutter vs. Sutter angle afterward. "You guys keep talking about it. "That stuff really doesn't mean much to me." He did suggest he'd give the game puck to his"
Another Sutter vs. Sutter coaching matchup
January 15
Los Angeles Times
 
"Christopher Sutter has pictures of John Wayne and Flames captain Jarome Iginla on the wall of his bedroom and was recently given a picture of his father, Darryl Sutter, on the bench as the Kings' coach. But the 18-year-old has been going to Calgary hockey games with Connie Sutter, his aunt, to watch the Flames, who are coached by his uncle Brent Sutter. So here it was on Saturday night: Dad's new team vs. his old team. How do you cheer for Dad against your uncle, and, well, Iginla? "He was on the fence this morning, though," Darryl Sutter said after the Kings' morning skate. "He wants to be in the other [dressing] room. Wants to be in this room." This was proof that Sutter vs. Sutter is"
A sentimental win for Kings' Darryl Sutter
January 15
Los Angeles Times
 
"Darryl Sutter 1, Brent Sutter 0. That would be the Sutter Family result on Saturday night after the brothers met for the first time as opposing coaches in the NHL. The Kings were briskly efficient, putting a strong hold on the game by scoring three times in a 15-minute stretch in the second period on their way to a 4-1 victory over the Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome. That gift-wrapped a successful homecoming for new Kings Coach Darryl Sutter, who had about an eight-year run in Calgary, first as coach and then as general manager. The game was largely devoid of sentiment until afterward. Kings center Jarret Stoll grabbed the game puck for Sutter and gave it to him in the dressing room."
In Sutter family, some things never change
January 14
Los Angeles Times
 
"Family and hockey will be merging, once again, an almost unavoidable occurrence as long as there are Sutters still around to skate, score, coach and put teams together in the NHL. Merging and not colliding, Brent Sutter promised. Brent, the Calgary Flames' coach, was talking about the fascinating Sutter family dynamic Friday at the Saddledome, a few hours before older brother and Kings Coach Darryl Sutter arrived for their first game against each other as coaches, here Saturday night. They are intense men from an intense hockey family, only a notch or two below older brother Brian Sutter, their acknowledged leader. "I've never seen Brian go over the glass between benches and grab another"
Stars hope Morrow's hit on Kopitar doesn't draw supplementary discipline
January 13
Dallas Morning News
 
"Brenden Morrow has learned not to jump to any conclusions when it comes to supplementary discipline and the NHL. The Stars captain put a big hit on Anze Kopitar in the third period of a 5-4 Stars win that caused Kopitar to leave the game and not return. However, on replay, it appeared that Morrow made a shoulder to shoulder hit that spun Kopitar in a helicopter fashion and back into the boards. Morrow was not penalized on the play, but NHL director of player safety Brendan Shanahan has many options in possibly ruling against the hit. He could call for a hit to the head, he could say it was boarding, he could say it was charging. The Stars feel it was none of the above."
Kings fail to take advantage of the Stars
January 13
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Kings lost a game Thursday but dodged a far more dire fate. Center Anze Kopitar, helped off the ice at 12:12 of the third period of what became a 5-4 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars at Staples Center, had a bloody nose and sore neck and shoulder and will be monitored Friday. However, General Manager Dean Lombardi said Kopitar's injuries were not as serious as they initially appeared. "He should be fine," Coach Darryl Sutter said, a bloody nose and sore neck being all in a day's work for him in his playing and farming days."
Kings' Jonathan Quick makes NHL All-Star team
January 13
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, chosen as an All-Star for the Jan. 29 game at Ottawa, had a typically low-key reaction to his first All-Star selection and first for a Kings goalie since Mario Lessard in 1981. "It's a great accomplishment. It's something I'm looking forward to do at the end of the month," he said Thursday. "But right now we've got a lot of things going on here. … It's going to be a great time and couple days. But that's a couple weeks away here and we've got a lot to do here in the next couple weeks.""
Anze Kopitar suffers upper-body injury
January 13
ESPN.com
 
"Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar left Thursday's 5-4 shootout loss in the third period with an upper-body injury after he was checked head-first into the boards by Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow and did not return. Kopitar barely moved as he lay on the ice for several minutes. Meanwhile, teammate Mike Richards instigated a fight with Morrow, costing the Kings a four-minute power play. The Stars scored on the ensuing man advantage to tie the score, 4-4, and send the game to overtime. Dallas beat L.A. in a shootout as Loui Eriksson scored the only goal. After the game, Kings coach Darryl Sutter downplayed the injury, saying Kopitar just had a bloody nose. "He'll probably be fine,""
NHL names remainder of All-Star Game roster
January 12
NHL.com
 
"The Vancouver Canucks, who started the day with the best record in the Western Conference, also lead in another category -- most players added to the All-Star Game. Four members of the Canucks were among the 36 veterans and 12 rookies announced by the NHL for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, to be played Jan. 29 in Ottawa. Players from all 30 teams will be represented at the game, with four members of the Canucks added to the pool of players Thursday -- forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin, defenseman Alexander Edler and forward Cody Hodgson, who was one of the dozen rookies selected to play in the game and the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition, to be held Jan. 28."
Former Oiler Penner sidelined by pancakes
January 10
Edmonton Sun
 
"Dustin Penner had weight issues while he was an Oiler, so maybe it's not a surprise he hurt himself while eating pancakes on the weekend. The Los Angeles Kings forward was sidelined for one game after injuring his back in the bizarre breakfast mishap. "Apparently it's one of those mysterious things, where you can throw it out (from) sneezing," Penner told the L.A. Kings Insider. "I just leaned over to dip into some delicious pancakes that my wife made. It's just like it (the pain) wraps around you and squeezes. So it was disappointing. Hopefully it's just an isolated incident, and not something that's going to become chronic." Penner said his back hurt so badly he needed his wife's help to"
Kings turn in five-star effort in 5-2 win over Washington
January 10
Los Angeles Times
 
"Whether it was the full moon, a simple homage or the sheer delight of finishing off a three-on-one, defenseman Jack Johnson dragged the Kings to a new place. Johnson "Tebowed" at Staples Center. It was the Kings' third goal in what turned out to be a 5-2 victory against the Washington Capitals on Monday night. Adding goals for the Kings were Kyle Clifford, Anze Kopitar, Jarret Stoll and Justin Williams (on the power play, no less). Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier, getting a rare start, won his third game of the season."
Capitals vs. Kings: Loss extends road woes for Washington
January 10
Washington Post
 
"It doesn't appear to matter the precise circumstances or opponent, whether they establish a lead or fall behind early: The Washington Capitals rarely gain traction on the road. Their game Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings was no exception. Los Angeles entered the contest as the lowest-scoring team in the NHL, but had no trouble against the Capitals. With Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." punctuating several defensive breakdowns and ugly turnovers, the Kings erased a one-goal deficit en route to a 5-2 win over Washington at Staples Center."
Tense talks loom for NHL, players
January 9
Montreal Gazette
 columnist Red Fisher
"Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr, along with their lawyers, sit across the table to discuss a new collective agreement. All the more in view of the stunning announcement on Friday that the National Hockey League is shelving plans for the massive realignment it had agreed upon for next season following the NHLPA's refusal to agree to the changes. The NHL, as you know, announced in early December that it planned to switch from two three-division conferences to four seven-or eight-team conferences. At the time, there was no reaction from the players' man. On Friday, Fehr told Bettman and the owners – who had agreed to realignment by a 26-4 margin – to shove it."
Maybe a little outrage can jump-start the L.A. Kings
January 8
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Helene Elliot
"Darryl Sutter has been positive and encouraging during his nine games as the Kings' coach, choosing to motivate players with a pat on the back instead of screaming in their faces. Maybe it's time for the Kings to experience the Wrath of Sutter. Their listless 1-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets before an unhappy crowd at Staples Center on Saturday shouldn't pass without a few loud and choice words from Sutter. Fans didn't spare their jeers after the Kings failed to capitalize on 13 minutes 36 seconds of power-play time over eight advantages, including a five-on-three early in the third period and a six-on-four at the end. "It was a power-play game. It's not a secret," center Anze Kopitar"
With players' union objecting, NHL realignment plan is shelved
January 7
Los Angeles Times
 
"Hostility between the NHL and the NHL Players' Assn. erupted Friday, eight months before their labor agreement expires but apparently not too soon for each side to claim moral high ground and court public sympathy. The first salvo was fired by the NHL, which announced it will not implement the realignment and revised playoff format its Board of Governors had approved for the 2012-13 season. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement that the union "unreasonably refused" to approve the plan and the league will now "evaluate all of our available legal options." NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr, in a statement issued by the union, said players couldn't accept the proposal by the"
Realignment plans put on hold
January 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The NHL's radical realignment will have to wait at least a year. The league announced Friday that the NHL Players' Association did not give its approval to the realignment plan that it had crafted in December at its Board of Governors meeting. The current divisional and playoff formats will remain for the 2012-13 season. Penguins CEO and president David Morehouse, who was delighted when the new plan passed last month, declined comment yesterday. General manager Ray Shero, out of town on a scouting trip, could not be reached. "It is unfortunate that the NHLPA has unreasonably refused to approve a plan that an overwhelming majority of our clubs voted to support and that has received such"
KINGS 1, PHOENIX 0 (OT): Doughty leaves no doubt in L.A.'s victory
January 6
L.A. Daily News
 
"The Kings will close their outdoor skating rink at L.A. Live today with a final skate in which they'll generate fake snow in 80-degree weather. If only they could figure out a way to generate offense across the street at Staples Center. The Kings have a new coach in Darryl Sutter, but the offense still has the same ineffectiveness it did when Terry Murray coached the team. It took defenseman Drew Doughty 38 seconds into overtime to score, a goal that was reviewed and upheld, as the Kings won 1-0 Thursday in front of a sellout crowd of 18,118. Goalie Jonathan Quick made 22 saves and notched his NHL-best sixth shutout of the season. Doughty hadn't scored in nearly two months."
Kings defeat Coyotes, 1-0, in overtime
January 6
Los Angeles Times
 
"Clearly, new Kings Coach Darryl Sutter was being wildly optimistic the day he was hired when he said the NHL has become a 3-2 league. Try 1-0. Yes, there are places and buildings where multiple goals are actually scored, but Staples Center was not one of them on Thursday night. And no one cared — not a bit — not after the Kings defeated the Coyotes, 1-0, when defenseman Drew Doughty scored 38 seconds into overtime and goalie Jonathan Quick recorded his league-leading sixth shutout, making 22 saves."
Kings think outside the net to address scoring issues
January 5
Los Angeles Times
 
"Who better to help a goal-starved team than the man responsible for scoring 70 in one season? No, former Kings star Bernie Nicholls isn't coming out of retirement. After all, the guy is 50 and his last NHL tour of duty was during the 1998-99 season with the San Jose Sharks. But Nicholls played for new Kings Coach Darryl Sutter in Chicago and later with the Sharks. After his retirement, he assisted, informally, in San Jose, and Nicholls was more than happy to leave the Ontario winter chill behind when Sutter invited him to Southern California."
Avalanche beats Kings 2-1 in shootout
January 3
Denver Post
 
"The Los Angeles Kings? were a team in turmoil not long ago, a team that fired its coach as a result, with the general manager making threats to remaining players that they would be next out of town if things didn't turn around. The Kings entered Monday night's game with the Avalanche 4-0-2 in their six games under new coach Darryl Sutter?, but they lost to the Avalanche 2-1 in a shootout at the Staples Center."
Kings let one get away at the end against Avalanche
January 3
Los Angeles Times
 
"It has been described as a jolt or even a little shock to the system. But that is probably underselling the recent arrival, and subsequent impact, of Darryl Sutter as Kings coach. That would be too subtle. In fact, the Sutter effect has been more like a grenade rolling through the Kings' dressing room. Try seven games without a loss in regulation in the first two weeks of Sutter's coaching regime. The surging Colorado Avalanche defeated the Kings, 2-1, in a shootout Monday night at Staples Center."
Anze Kopitar's goal breaks drought
January 2
Los Angeles Times
 
"Center Anze Kopitar had gone 17 games without a goal but was sure the chances he was getting would turn into goals. "I'm confident. I believe that it's going to happen soon," he said Saturday before the team's morning skate. Players always say that when they're not scoring. This time, it came true. Kopitar scored the third goal in the Kings' 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night, taking a fine pass from Justin Williams and holding onto the puck before lifting a backhander past goaltender Roberto Luongo. It was an emphatic moment in a convincing performance that improved the Kings' record under Coach Darryl Sutter to 4-0-2 and extended their point streak to a season-best"
NHL concerned over head count
January 1
Los Angeles Times
 
"Keith Primeau has not put on his full hockey equipment since the day he retired from professional hockey, a career cut short by several concussions, not all of them documented. To say he has good days would be stretching the definition. "I can honestly say here that there isn't a day that goes by that I don't sense I've damaged my brain," said Primeau, who retired in 2005 at 34. "Whether I stand up and get a headache or I'm resting and I get a headache, I know exactly why I had to stop playing." The former Philadelphia Flyers star has made it his post-career crusade to teach people about concussions. Primeau suffered at least four in his career, and if his own lingering symptoms weren't"