Los Angeles at St Louis 3/24/09

[LAKINGSNUT]

LOS ANGELES KINGS (30-32-10 = 70)

at

ST. LOUIS BLUES (33-30-9 = 75)

March 24, 2009

KINGS GO FOR SWEEP OF ST. LOUIS
In the 42-year history of this series, the only season in which the Kings have won every meeting came in 2005-06...LA can match that tonight, entering the game with a 3-0-0 record against the Blues, out-scoring STL, 15-5.

Game Time: 5:30 PM PST | 8:30 PM EST
Location: Scottrade Center | St. Louis, MO
TV Broadcast: Away Team: FS-W
Home Team: FS-MW (HD)

Radio Broadcast: KTLK 1150 AM; XM 204
Online broadcast: NHL Game Radio: Kings at St. Louis
Internet Stream: NOT AVAILABLE AT POST TIME

Update: Though the Kings stayed in the playoff race longer than expected, they were hurt by their latest slump. They've picked up only three points in their last six games and trail eighth-place Nashville by seven points with 10 games left. The Kings should be happy to see the Blues, having scored 15 goals in three wins against them. St. Louis sits in 11th place, only two points behind Nashville.


-- Billy Witz


GAME PREVIEW
Chris Mason's outstanding play has helped keep St. Louis in the playoff hunt. He's done little, however, to stop the Blues' defensive struggles against the Los Angeles Kings.

Opening a key three-game homestand, the Blues will likely give Mason his 24th straight start as they try to avoid being swept in their season series with the stumbling Kings on Tuesday night.

St. Louis (33-30-9) is two points behind eighth-place Nashville in the Western Conference, hoping Mason can continue his strong play over the team's last 10 games - four at the Scottrade Center. Mason is 16-7-5 with a 2.08 goals-against average in 26 games after an 0-8-1 skid that lasted into mid-January.

Mason, though, struggled in his only start against the Kings (30-32-10) this season, stopping 20 of 24 shots and getting pulled after two periods in a 6-2 loss Dec. 11. Los Angeles has outscored St. Louis 15-5 in winning all three matchups this season.

In the 42-year history of this series, the only season in which the Kings have won every meeting came in 2005-06.

However, a faltering offense is largely to blame for their dwindling playoff hopes. Los Angeles is 2-8-1 in road games after winning seven of its previous eight, averaging 1.6 goals per game during the slump.

The Kings, who trail the Predators by seven points with 10 games left, are halfway through a six-game road trip following 4-1 losses at Pittsburgh and Chicago on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

St. Louis, meanwhile, totaled one goal through the first two stops of a three-game trip before beating Calgary 3-2 on Friday night.

The Blues ended their scoring slump even though veteran winger Keith Tkachuk missed the game due to a wrist injury. St. Louis is hoping Tkachuk, who has 21 goals and 18 assists, will be back on the ice Tuesday.

Andy McDonald and Jay McClement scored in a 51-second span midway through the third period Friday after the Blues trailed by one through two periods.

"That's how we've been getting our wins all year," said Mason, who made 33 saves. "We've had to fight for every point."

St. Louis has to take advantage of this stretch at home, where it is 10-4-3 in 2009. The Blues also host Vancouver and Columbus this week before playing six of their final seven games on the road.

The Kings are 1-4-1 overall after winning their previous three, hurting their chances of making the postseason for the first time since 2002.

"It's a big mountain in front of us, we know that," Los Angeles coach Terry Murray told the team's official Web site. "We have to have 20 guys playing very good and then you go from there. It's one game at a time."

The Kings are in desperate need of a boost on offense. Their only goal Sunday was scored by defenseman Drew Doughty, who has two goals and two assists in his last three games after posting three points - all assists - in his previous 15.

Los Angeles center Anze Kopitar, who leads the team with 61 points (25 goals, 36 assists), has been held off the scoresheet in three of his last five games and has just two points in that span. He has five goals and 15 assists in 11 games against the Blues.


PROBABLE LINES
Los Angeles Kings: (subject to change)

Handzus - Kopitar - Williams
Purcell - Stoll - Brown
Calder - Richardson - Simmonds
Ivanans - Armstrong - Harrold

Quincey - Doughty
O'Donnell - Johnson
Greene - Drewiske

Probable Starter: Jonathan Quick

Healthy Scratches: Moller, Zeiler

St. Louis Blues: (subject to change)

Perron - Oshie - Backes
McDonald - McClement - Boyes
Winchester - Steen - Crombeen
Hinote - Berglund - Janssen

Jackman - Polak
Colaiacovo - Weaver
McKee - Strachan

Probable Starter: Chris Mason


INJURIES
Los Angeles Kings:
Alexander Frolov (Lower body injury on 3/23/09) day-to-day
Denis Gauthier (Upper body injury on 03/19/09) day-to-day

St. Louis Blues:
Eric Brewer (Back surgery on 12/13/08) IR
Erik Johnson (Right knee surgery on 09/23/08) IR
Paul Kariya (Left/right hip surgery on 11/06/08) IR
D.J. King (Shoulder surgery on 10/22/08) IR
Keith Tkachuk (Left wrist injury on 03/21/09) day-to-day


***Sources: LA Times, Kings fan site, Kings.nhl.com

[lakingsfan19]

I wont even watch it. No westgarth, no chance for the playoffs and lifeless play by the kings lately. I am done with them this year. Fu(king harrold on the 4th line again instead of westgarth. it's pathetic!

[LAKINGSNUT]

i have to say, i thought Williams looked like shiat against Pittsburgh. i know it was his first game back, and rust is to be expected. i will not judge his whole worth based on the one game, it would be wrong to do so. did anyone see him against Chicago? how did he look?

i think Westgarth was sent to Manchester because there's little chance of him playing with teh Kings now that Williams is off the IR. he's a victim of the numbers game: too many forwards! look at it this way, when was the last time you saw a Westgarth fight? at least in Manchester he'll get a chance to drop the gloves on a nightly basis.

[NickDoh]

i didnt watch chicago, but yes, williams looked extremely rusty in pittsburgh.

im gonna have to say, im not planning on watching the game. i think im gonna pull the weeds in the front yard instead. has more potential entertainment.

[LAKINGSNUT]

Originally Posted by NickDoh

i didnt watch chicago, but yes, williams looked extremely rusty in pittsburgh.

im gonna have to say, im not planning on watching the game. i think im gonna pull the weeds in the front yard instead. has more potential entertainment.

LMAO!

i'm honestly praying they throw away any hope of reaching the playoffs, coz its not gonna happen anyway. they need to go on a nice little losing streak here to improve their chances in the draft lottery!

[Machinehead2k5]

Originally Posted by NickDoh

im gonna have to say, im not planning on watching the game. i think im gonna pull the weeds in the front yard instead. has more potential entertainment.

Haha, you find a weed that's hard to take out. You drop your gardening gloves and throw a beat down on the weeds.

[lakingsfan19]

Williams looked horrible in chicago as well. The whole team did.

[bobberino]

Let's go Kings..

[NickDoh]

and judging by that box score, i chose wisely.

[lakingsfan19]

There was no way I was going to turn the Rags game off to watch this one. The rags game was what a hockey game should be like.