Frolov Nets Hat Trick Against Blues

Well, that was a fun game last night, wasn't it? Alexander Frolov scored a hat trick, Patrick O' Sullivan had five points and Anze Kopitar added a goal as the Kings routed St. Louis 5-1. A week ago in St. Louis, the Kings looked lost and weary. Last night at Staples, they looked like Cup champions as they rolled all over former King goalie, Manny Legace for four second-period goals. And while the Kings are still at the bottom of the standings, they're certainly not playing like a team in the cellar of late, if you remove three of the last four games before last night's win.

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In case anyone missed it, Jaroslav Modry was shipped off to Philly on Tuesday for a third round pick in this year's draft. Modry will be sorely missed... NOT!

Not Much Has Changed...

Well, It's been another long month since I've had a chance to post anything regarding the Kings, and not much has changed. The Kings are still the league's worse team according to their record, although they are in a dog fight with Tampa Bay to avoid that honor. Since the January 3rd loss at home to Columbus, the Kings have gone a respectable 8-6-1, including another home win over Dallas (the season series is now 3-3 with the home team having won all 6 games) and big road wins on the current 8-game road trip against both New York teams, and Detroit. In the Detroit game this past Thursday, the Kings trailed 3-1 after two periods and scored four unanswered 3rd period goals to take the win, 5-3. They followed that up with a horrific performance yesterday in Pittsburgh, losing 4-2. The game wasn't really that close.

All-in-all, the Kings are playing better. Michael Cammelleri has since returned to the lineup from is injury, but Rob Blake is out now for another week with a non-displaced fracture in his left ankle. Speaking of Blake, his name has come up in trade rumors and he's been linked to Detroit and Colorado (he played for the Avs for five years between his first and current stint with the Kings). Speculation is even if he is traded, he does become an unrestricted free agent after the season and there is talk that he would re-sign in L.A. anyway to finish up his career in L.A. (he said when he signed in L.A. before last season that he intends to retire a King). Stay tuned for more on this one.

Kings have two games left on their current 8-game roadie where they are 3-3. They play in Columbus tonight at 6pm PT, and finish up the trip in St. Louis on Tuesday night.

Second year forward Anze Kopitar played in this year's All-Star game in Atlanta, but didn't record a point in the loss. This should be the first of many All-Star game appearances for Kopitar, assuming the league continues with it. There was talk over the All-Star weekend that a lot of changes could be coming for the festivities, including possibly eliminating the game altogether because of a lack of interest from fans and whatnot. It would be such a shame for this to happen as the league struggles to regain its image after the lockout several years ago.

Streak is History...

Well, that was quick. Three games and done. Lost last night 4-3 at home to Columbus. I caught most of the first two periods, then missed the entire third. Jean-Sebastian Aubin got the nod last night and was yanked after the Jackets got their third goal of the night early in the second. Kings played decent through the first two, but obviously not good enough to win. Bright spot was Dustin Brown registering his 20th goal of the season. (Kopitar is second on the squad with 16; Cammalleri, who started the season red-hot, leading the league at one point with 10 goals, is now third on the team with 15.) Kings are now 1-1 on the six-game homestand.

Next up on the homestand: Calgary on Saturday night.

A New Streak

It's been a busy few days. Since my last post, the Kings have suddenly turned things around and are now on a nice three-game winning streak. The streak started with an impressive come-from-behind 3-1 win in Colorado on Saturday afternoon. They followed that up with a great win in Chicago on Sunday evening, scoring three unanswered goals as they upended the Blackhawks 3-2 in OT. Last night they got the Hawks again, this time at home at Staples and fell behind early 1-0, and then 2-1. But they regrouped very quickly and :13 later Ladislav Nagy netted the tying-goal with what would be the start of a huge night for him and the Kings offensively. The Kings would end up scoring the game's final EIGHT goals en route to a 9-2 romp of Chicago as they started the New Year on a very high note. As for Nagy, he netted a hat-trick and two assists, and Alexander Frolov netted two goals and three assists. The power play was en fuego last night as they completely picked apart the league's best road penalty-killing unit.

The Kings are actually playing very well now (they played well in the last couple of losses during the 'other' streak) and now have some momentum as they try to chase Phoenix in the Pacific standings. Next up: Columbus tomorrow night at Staples.

Sharks Take Bite Out of Kings

Again. (And sorry for the late post again!) Another close one again, and another loss, 3-2. I didn't get to see any of the game, which might be a good thing. The offense is really struggling right now and its sent them spiraling to 8 straight defeats. Of the eight losses, five of them were by two goals or less, and two by three goals. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight for this streak. Well, at least for one more game. Kings hit the ice tomorrow afternoon in Denver, then head back to Chicago on Sunday for a another shot at the Blackhawks.

Kings in the Music City

Not much to talk about (sorry for the late comments)... another loss for the KIngs. Final: Nashville 4, Kings 2. This is becoming routine. They actually played well for most of the game (at least what I saw of it) but the result was pretty much the same. The Kings are free-falling and getting buried as the league's worse team according to the standings. On a bright note, rookie Patrick O'Sullivan is on a tear of late. If the Kings can just get the rest of the offense going again, and maybe get a little help in front LaBarbera and Aubin, they might win a few of these games they're losing.

Next up, the Kings are back at Staples day after Christmas to take on San Jose...

Kings in Columbus...

UPDATE (8:25pm CT): Game over. Kings lose again, sixth straight I think, 2-1. Seems like some of the players have quit on head coach Marc Crawford. I missed a good chunk of the game, unfortunately (or fortunately?) but it seems like they just can't catch a break. There's no consistency in their losses either; they either play a good game and lose, or they completely stink.

Next game is tomorrow night in Nashville. Game time is an hour earlier than tonight, 7pm local time (CT).

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The other night I mentioned not being able to watch the Detroit game because I was shut out on TV on two feeds. I mentioned this was the second or third time this has happened. One of the other times was in Columbus earlier in the season, but I'm pleased to say I can actually watch the game tonight.

So far, the Kings are off to a good start, leading 1-0 towards the end of the first. They just had a power-play goal nullified (but I didn't see or hear why).

Center Ice/Tonight's Game in Detroit

UPDATE (8:49pm CT): So much for the good game. Rout is on. 6-2 Wings mid-way through the final stanza...

UPDATE (8:00pm CT): Missed this one... Wings added another... got their two-goal lead back... 4-2 now.

UPDATE (7:42pm CT): Or, maybe not... grrrr. Wings regain the lead 3-2 on a Holmstrom goal at 3:35.

UPDATE (7:35pm CT): O'Sully ties it up just 15 seconds into the 2nd... might be a good game after all!

UPDATE (7:15pm CT): Brownie gets one back @ 18:32 in the first... 2-1 now...

UPDATE (6:53pm CT): Here we go again... 2-0 Wings...

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So I'm paying big money to be able to watch the out-of-market games, such as the Kings. Well, this isn't the first time this has happened but I turn on the game to FSN West and Detroit and BOTH feeds are blacked out here. What the hell is the point if BOTH feeds are going to be blacked out even though I'm paying for it?

Anyway, enough venting... I guess I'll be following tonight's blowout online, and with the help of ESPN goal and end-of-period/final score mobile text alerts. Speaking of which, just got the first one... 1-0 Detroit just 0:59 into the game on Zetterberg's 25th... hahahaha... Gonna be a long night for Kings fans. Maybe it's a good thing I can't get the game...

End of Last Night's Game...

Was very uneventful. Avs got an empty-netter with just over a minute left, leaving the Kings with another loss and falling deeper and deeper into the Pacific cellar...

Imagine if they had played as well as they did in the second and third periods for 60 minutes... and every night, too...

Next game is tomorrow night in Hockey Town... good luck Kings... you'll need it...

Tonight...

UPDATE (11:42pm CT): Still 3-2. It's getting late here... gonna watch the end of this in bed and comment and follow-up in the morning...

UPDATE (11:30pm CT): Handzus with a ripper @ 4:46! Kings back in it 3-2...

CORRECTION (11:25pm CT): Brownie gets the goal (#15). Credit Blakey with an assist...

UPDATE (11:22pm CT): Woo-hoo! Blake puts one in (#3) :36 into the 3rd! Kings on the board... 3-1 the team from the Rockies...

UPDATE (11:01pm CT): Much better period for the Kings defensively... still gotta find a way to put the biscuit in the basket. Anyway, end of 2, 3-0 'Lanche.

UPDATE (10:11pm CT): End of 1st period... 3-0 bad guys. Another bad start for the Kings. Defense has GOT to step it up and the offense has GOT to do better with the puck-handling and taking better shots... this is ridiculous... Not sure if it's fortunate or unfortunate that there are two periods left in this game...

UPDATE (10:03pm CT): Avs score again... 3-0 at 14:12 in the first...

UPDATE (9:45pm CT): LaBarbera is back in net for the Kings... not off to a good start... two goals (Smyth #11, Hlinka #5) for the Avs in the first four minutes... 2-0 Colorado...

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Av's in town tonight. Game's about to start on Prime Ticket. Let's hope for a better outcome than the last few games....

Kings Slide Continues Against Dallas

Before I get into last night's game, if there are any readers, my apologies for having not blogged in a while. Been a very busy five months. I promise to do my best to post more frequently - here and on the other blogs.

Went to the the game last night here in Dallas--- another pathetic performance by the Kings. No effort whatsoever. I think I need to re-evaluate things and ask myself why I keep subjecting myself to these horrible performances. I realize this team is rebuilding but they're not even showing any effort out there. It's one thing to lose while giving 100% effort out there. It's another thing to not even show up and lose the way they're losing. I told myself when I moved to Dallas in March that I would go to only four games a year here (the four when the Kings are in town) but so far only one team has showed up in the first three.

Fortunately, the last of the four here is in March. Hopefully by then, with luck, the Kings will finally decide to show up.

Kings Sign Hickey

I'm not too familiar with the Kings first-round pick this year, Thomas Hickey, but they have apparently signed him to a contract, becoming the first team to sign their first-round pick. From Rotoworld, two days ago:

"The Kings went off the board to select Hickey fourth overall, and have surprised pundits again by being the first team to sign their first-round selection. It is unclear what the Kings have planned for Thomas, but they are obviously expecting big things from the offensive defenseman. It will be intriguing to see whether Hickey makes the team in training camp."

Frolov Hurt?

Well this is going to suck. I've been hearing all day that Kings left winger Alexander Frolov hurt his shoulder in Russia's Olympic game on Saturday against Khazakstan. The word is he might heave either separated his shoulder, a broken shoulder, or possibly ligament damage in his shoulder, any of which could end his season. Frolov is already on his way back to L.A. from Torino, Italy to be checked out by team doctors.

The worst part about this is... there isn't a flippin' story about this anywhere on the internet, radio or TV about this...