Rollin' Through DC...

And putting a Cap in Washington with a solid 4-1 win.

Four different players scored goals for the Kings, including Kopi.

Ovechkin with lone Caps goal.

They pick up yet two more points. Perhaps biggest win of season so far.

Streak is now at 6-0-2 in last eight; 3-0-2 on current roadie.

Next stop: monster game in Philly tomorrow.

It's All in the Point

Just keep picking up those points.

They pick up one in the standings despite the overtime loss in Pittsburgh.

Streak is now 5-0-2 in the last seven, and 2-0-2 on the road trip.

Next stop: DC to face Alex Ovechkin and the Caps.

Kings Win in the Desert

Final: Kings 5, Coyotes 3.

Anze Kopitar got the scoring going for the Kings with his 11th goal of the season. But down 3-2 heading into the third period, the Kings scored three times to ice the game. Ryan Smyth picked up two more goals to give him eight on the season. Along with Justin Williams, who added a goal of his own, the Kings top line poured in eight points (four goals and four assists).

With the win, the Kings improved to 9-4-2 for 20 points, good for second place in the division, one point behind San Jose. The 20 points tie them with Washington, who are without Alexander Ovechkin for an extended period time with an upper body injury, for fourth most in the league.

Kings in DC

Nice win by the Kings tonight in DC. I didn't get to see much of the game since the Lakers took priority tonight in Boston, but what I did see of it was a solid game plan to attack early.

Caps scored first before Anze Kopitar netted the equalizer mid-way through the first. The game was tied as the second stanza started and two quick Kings goals (one by Kopitar, one by Micahal Handzus) gave them a two goal lead. The Caps would get a quickie back before the Kings would add another in the 13 minute mark of the second. Alex Ovechkin would tally his 37th goal mid-way through the final period before Kyle Calder would give them a two goal lead again with about a minute and a half left. That would prove to be the game winner with the final score of 5-4.

The Kings have been playing solid hockey most of the season despite battling three teams at the bottom of the conference. However, with so much parity at the bottom end of the conference standings, and the teams closely bundled up, the Kings are not out of the playoff chase. The true test will most certainly come in March and April, when they finish the season with 12 of 16 on the road. In any case, we'll deal with that when it comes. In the meantime, the Kings climb over the .500 mark with a 22-21-7 record, good for 51 points, a tie for 12th in the conference but just three points back of the eighth and final playoff spot, with a date in Jersey Saturday afternoon/evening against the Devils. Game time is 4 PM PT.

Coaches, Schedule, Gretzky: 20 Years Later, Dustin Brown A Dodger?

The Kings have finally announce their coaching staff, as Mark Hardy, Jamie Kompon and Nelson Emerson will round out Terry Murray's staff. Here's the official press release.

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The Kings 2008-2009 schedule was released, and as expected, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will return to Staples Center this coming season. Here is the official press release announcing the new schedule with links to the complete schedule.

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Do you remember where you were nearly 20 years ago this Saturday? On August 9, 1988, the Kings pulled off one of the biggest, if not the biggest trade in sports history when they acquired "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky, along with Marty McSorely from the Edmonton Oilers, essentially changing the face of hockey on the west coast, and throughout the league.

The Kings and the NHL Network have dubbed this week "Gretzky Week" to commemorate the historical trade.

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Kings forward Dustin Brown will be in uniform at Dodger Stadium next Friday night August 15th against the Milwaukee Brewers. Brown will be taking batting practice with the Dodgers prior to the 7:40 game that night, and is then scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Should be a fun night all around for Kings and Dodger fans!