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head coach:
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Larry Robinson
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roster:
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C - Jozef Stumpel, Ian Laperriere, Ray Ferraro, Roman
Vopat, Yanic Perreault. LW - Steve McKenna, Vladimir Tsyplakov,
Luc Robitaille, Craig Johnson, Josh Green. RW - Russ Courtnall,
Nathan LaFayette, Glen Murray, Sandy Moger. D - Garry Galley,
Rob Blake, Sean O'Donnell, Doug Bodger, Mattias Norstrom, Steve
Duchesne, Philippe Boucher. G - Stephane Fiset, Jamie Storr.
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injuries:
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None.
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transactions:
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Sent Mark Visheau, d, and Jaroslav Modry, d, to Long
Beach (IHL).
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game results:
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10/10 at Edmonton W 2-1
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standings:
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Pacific Division GP W L T PTS GF GA
Dallas 1 1 0 0 2 4 1
Los Angeles 2 1 1 0 2 4 5
San Jose 2 0 1 1 1 6 8
Phoenix 1 0 1 0 0 1 4
Anaheim 2 0 2 0 0 1 5
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team news:
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by Matt Moore, Los Angeles Correspondent
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The start of a new season. Now will the Kings tank it or get better
than last year? The pressure is on, particularly with the opening of
the Staples Center at the start of the 1999-2000 season, since what
better way to fill seats than to have a playoff contender?
Duchesne brings power
The Kings went out to improve their power play during the
off-season, with Steve Duchesne as a result. This is his second
tour with the Kings, and still holds records for most goals by a
defenseman in both a season and career. He brings both speed and
scoring to the blue line, which should combine with Rob Blake's
hard shot much like it did last season between Duchesne and Al
MacInnis in St. Louis. So the prospects of the Kings doing better
than the sad 15th-best power play in the league.
Berg take a hike
Aki Berg has been lost for the season due to his holding out and
signing a contract in Finland. He apparently feels that his pay
actually went down going into this season once his signing bonus,
which he received last year, is figured into the equation.
Considering Berg's still learning the game and the fact that he
would have been a fifth or sixth defenseman this season, maybe it
is best he play in Finland where he would get more ice time than
what he could have gotten in LA.
Kings win Game ONe...
The Kings first game versus Edmonton was just about what you would
expect in a first game. Not the most well played game, but still
good. The Oilers scored first on a goal by former King Kevin Brown
(lots of former Kings around) but responded with a power-play goal
by Yanic Perreault on a pretty nice pass from Luc Robitaille.
Robitaille then scored the game-winner with 4:35 left in the third
period on a pass from Perreault. This was a game that the Kings
should win, since the Oilers appear to be a team stuck in neutral
due to the lack of resources of the organization.
Goal, defense lookin' strong
The Kings defense should be excellent this season, with the
goaltending duo being one of the best if not the best in the
league. Jamie Storr is the future No. 1 goalie and showed that
promise at the end of last season and the playoffs. Stephane Fiset
is a workhorse who can dominate stretches of the season. Hopefully
with Storr's emergence Fiset will not be forced to play the 60
games he did last season, which will let him be well rested in the
playoffs.
The defenseman situation is also one of the best in the league. Led
by Norris Trophy-winning Rob Blake and Mattias Norstrom in the No. 1
pairing, and the acquisition of the steady Doug Bodger in the
off-season, they are now deep enough that they were able to sit
Garry Galley in the first game in Edmonton.
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