head coach: Larry Robinson

roster: C - Ray Ferraro, Ian Laperriere, Yanic Perreault, Jozef Stumpel, Nathan Lafayette; LW - Craig Johnson, Matt Johnson, Luc Robitaille, Vladimir Tsyplakov, Steve McKenna, Dan Bylsma; RW - Sandy Moger, Glenn Murray, Russ Courtnall; D - Aki Berg, Rob Blake, Phillipe Boucher, Garry Galley, Mattias Norstrom, Sean O'Donnell, Doug Zmolek, Jan Vopat; G - Jamie Storr, Stephane Fiset.

injuries: Craig Johnson, lw (abdominal contusion, end-o-Olympics); Phillipe Boucher, d (thyroid, when he gets bulked up again); Jozef Stumpel, c (coughing and puking, he better be ready after the Olympics); Garry Galley, d (bruised knee, ditto); Luc Robitaille, lw (groin injury, ditto again).

transactions: None.

standings:

Western Conference - Pacific Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
Colorado     58  29  13  16    74  172  138
Los Angeles  55  26  20   9    61  161  146
San Jose     56  21  28   7    49  139  152
Edmonton     57  19  28  10    48  141  164
Anaheim      56  19  28   9    47  137  170
Calgary      57  16  30  11    43  149  179
Vancouver    57  16  33   8    40  153  203

game results:

1/29  Calgary      W 5-3
1/31  Chicago      W 3-0
2/02  at Edmonton  L 1-0
2/03  at Calgary   W 6-3
2/05  Rangers      W 3-1
2/07  at Anaheim   W 5-2

team news:

by Matt Moore, Los Angeles Correspondent

This will be the first time that I have ever been able to type this since starting to write for LCS Hockey: The Los Angeles Kings are the hottest team in the NHL. Not that I'm complaining or anything. Especially since the Kings have missed the playoffs every season that I've written.

But back to the team. They are heading into the wonderful Olympic break on a 11-1-1 run with three consecutive wins at the end. In some ways the break blows goats since the Kings might not be able to keep the momentum they have developed going. But then again, it might be useful considering the wonderful injuries that they suffered in the final game against the Ducks. Luc Robitaille and Garry Galley both got injured and would probably be out in a normal situation but now they get the chance to go home, sit around, and hopefully, heal. Also the break will allow the Kings to get settled down again.

During part of the streak they were winning games by playing solid hockey all the way through. The last few they won despite some times where they seemingly disappeared and had to either pull it out in the end or they just sucked worse than their opponent.

Jozef Stumpel notched his second career hat trick, and his first as a King, against the Flames. In addition to the three goals, he added in a real nifty assist to a goal by Rob Blake. The guy is probably the best passer that the Kings have had since Gretzky left town, and by looking at the Calgary game, he showed that he can shoot the puck as well as any King, with his third goal coming on an impressive bad angle rebound shot that he was able to lift high over the sprawling goaltender. Watching the play develop, the goal was surprising since it looked like it was such a bad angle and that Stumpel had too much speed that he was going to be forced behind the net before a shot got off. Coach Larry Robinson has recently been putting him on a line with Vladimir Tsyplakov and either Yannic Perreault or Glenn Murray. Oh by the way, Stumpel will be playing for the Slovakian Olympic team.

Vladimir Tsyplakov has continued to be a darn good player. But I've said that before. But Glenn Murray has quietly turned into a consistent offensive force that can grind in the corners and knock in the tough goal. Now that he has been put on the team's number one line he has made Dave Taylor look like a genius for trading away Ed Olczyk last season. With 17 goals and 22 assists in 54 games, he looks like he should break 50 or maybe even 60 points for the season, which isn't bad for a guy who's career high is 31 points.

Also noteworthy is Russ Courtnall, who was signed by the Kings as a free agent following the start of the season. He has worked himself back into being a dangerous player and is a threat to score even on the penalty kill. This is obvious considering he scored two shorthanded goals in the past two weeks. Courtnall really makes me wonder what the heck the general managers in the league were looking for when they were passing over him for other players before the season began. The guy may be getting a bit old but he is still as fast as anybody in the game and is probably the best skater on the team.

The February 2nd game against the Flames highlighted more than Jozef Stumpel's ability to take over games. It also showed off Rocky Thompson's ability to talk a big game and then run off like a little kid. Rocky thinks that all it takes to become a heavyweight in the league is to talk big to reporters. Unfortunately for Rocky, it isn't. He fought Matt Johnson and Johnson pretty much won the fight, adding in a real nice check later in the period. Then Rocky disappeared. Apparently he did so well talking up a big game that he wasn't able to take a single shift in either the second or third periods. Hopefully he'll consider Lyle Odelein's career advice and put away the skates, buy some tights and go wrestle in the WWF. I think that would be best for everyone involved.

Luc Robitaille scored his 1,000th career point in the January 29th game against the Flames. He becomes the 51st player in NHL history to accomplish the feat. He is also only the sixth left winger to do this, joining such notables as Johnny Bucyk, Bobby Hull, Michel Goulet, Frank Mahovlich and Brian Propp. As a reward he received a nice silver hockey stick from the league and the Kings.

Bob Miller was the subject of a big hoopla over him being the voice of Kings' broadcasts for 25 years. This places him in third place for longevity of Los Angeles announcers, behind such giants as the Dodgers' Vin Sculley and Lakers' Chick Hearn. The Kings honored Miller by announcing that he now had a lifetime contract to announce the games and that the press box in the soon to be built arena will be named for him.

Also honored was the Kings trainer, Pete Demers, who was named the trainer of the United States Olympic hockey trainer. Demers, a fixture behind the bench for the Kings for longer than I've been alive, will surely do the Kings proud. Just hope that he doesn't have to work on any Kings in the winter games.

And finally, an update of the bet that I have with Editor-In-Chief Michael Dell and Zippy. Again, the bet is that the Pens would finish with more points than the Kings, and there is a secondary bet (only with Delly) that the Sharks would finish with more points. At this point it looks like Delly and I will finish even, but that Zippy will be snacking on that year's supply of Pez like he's always dreamed of. The standings at the break:

                        GP      W       L       T       PTS
        Pens            58      29      16      13      71
        Kings           55      26      20      9       61
        Sharks          56      21      28      7       49

The Kings are still in striking distance of the Pens, albeit very unlikely unless the Kings continue on this win streak for a hell of a long time. But Lord willing, the Sharks will stay that far away from the Kings in the standings. Yee-haw.

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