FROM LA KINGS INSIDER

Transcription

1 News Clips

2 FROM LA KINGS INSIDER February 28, :59 PM By: Jon Rosen February 28 Postgame Notes -With the loss, Los Angeles fell to alltime against Anaheim, a record that includes a road mark of The Kings have lost nine of the last 11 regular season games to the Ducks, going over that span. Thus far, Los Angeles is in the season series, with games remaining at Staples Center on March 5 and April 7. -The Kings fell to against the Western Conference and against the Pacific Division. -Los Angeles fell to in games tied after two periods. -Los Angeles fell to on the second night of back-to-back sets. The Kings four-game winning streak and five-game point streak (4-0-1) was snapped. Anaheim won its eighth consecutive game. -Los Angeles fell to in games in which Tanner Pearson scores. -With his first period assist, Anze Kopitar now has 57 points (22-35=57) in 53 career games against Anaheim. -Jonathan Quick allowed more than two goals in a game for the first time since he allowed three goals in a 4-2 loss to Anaheim on February 4. -The Kings attempted 60 shots (29 on goal, 18 blocked, 13 missed). The Ducks attempted 68 shots (29 on goal, 17 missed, 22 missed). Jake Muzzin led all skaters with seven shots on goal and 11 shot attempts. -Los Angeles won 23-of-56 faceoffs. Among regular performers, Anze Kopitar won 10-of-23, Nick Shore won 4-of-10, Vincent Lecavalier won 8- of-14, and Jeff Carter won 1-of-7. The Kings are scheduled to report to Toyota Sports Center at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 29. The rest of the day s schedule will be determined on site. February 28, :32 PM By: Jon Rosen February 28 Postgame Quotes: Darryl Sutter On the officials failing to put time on the clock after the disallowed goal: Well, there should have been. Were you watching the game? So should there have been time? So if you thought there should and they didn t, then they made a mistake, didn t they? Ask the question in full so I can know what you re talking about. On the penalty kill: If you were at the game last night, someone asked me that today about it, and our penalty killing was really good, and I don t think the penalty killing tonight was an issue even though they scored three goals. We could ve scored two, too. Both teams have really good power plays. I think that we made some tired mistakes. I think guys looked a little gassed. Even the one in the third with Tyler against their defensemen, that s going to happen when you get caught in a turnaround against a good team like that. On Kris Versteeg: I think he gives us some depth and the ability to finish and play all positions for us. It s important. Gabby s out, and I think that it showed up even tonight where we ve been using three and a half lines, basically, when you look at minutes played. Especially in back-to-backs, you need four lines, four good lines. February 28, :22 PM By: Alex Kinkopf February 28 Postgame Quotes: Kopitar, Doughty Anze Kopitar, on if there s more to the loss than the Kings penalty kill troubles: I mean, obviously to begin with we take too many penalties, and yeah we can definitely be sharper on the penalty kill, but I think our game just overall has to be better if we want to beat this team.

3 Kopitar, on Lucic s disallowed goal: Well, evidently it was offside, it was very close. We were all looking at the same thing there on the scoreboard, so it was very close, it is what it is. Kopitar, on if he felt like he straddled the blueline on the challenged play: Well I felt like I did, but I guess I didn t. Drew Doughty, on whether the disallowed goal affected momentum: I don t think so, we were prepared if it didn t count that we were just going to come back and try to get another one right away on the power play. I don t think they put the time on the clock that they should ve, it probably should ve been a little bit longer of a power play but I could be wrong with that, and we only had 56 seconds but we were determined to go back out there and get another one, and we weren t able to. Doughty, on any concern with the team s recent penalty killing performance: Not that I can think of, but obviously just bearing down on our own net, bearing down on getting pucks out, it s the same old thing. It s the same thing the penalty kill always talks about, getting pucks out, blocking shots, and not letting them bang goals in around the net, and they were able to do that tonight. February 28, :08 PM By: Jon Rosen Kings Acquire Versteeg From Carolina; Gaborik To LTIR The Los Angeles Kings acquired veteran forward Kris Versteeg from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for 20-year-old prospect Valentin Zykov and a conditional fifth round draft pick. Versteeg, 29, won Stanley Cups with Chicago in 2010 and The impetus behind his acquisition, learned through conversations with hockey operations, was based partly on his ability to replace some of the scoring vacated by the injured Marian Gaborik, and partly on Versteeg s playoff history, championship pedigree and versatility. The 5 11, 176-poind forward has 16 goals and 42 points in 84 career playoff games. I think he gives us some depth and the ability to finish and play all positions for us. It s important, Darryl Sutter said. Gabby s out, and I think that it showed up even tonight where we ve been using three and a half lines, basically, when you look at minutes played. Especially in back-to-backs, you need four lines, four good lines. In 43 games with AHL-Ontario, Zykov, the team s second round draft pick in 2013, totaled seven goals and 14 points. The forward prospect turns 21 in May. Previously, the Kings had their sights set on Teddy Purcell, but negotiations with Edmonton stalled late Friday when a prospect believed to be Nikolai Prokhorkin would not sign a contract and commit to playing in North America. Though a deal appeared to be in place, Purcell ultimately was traded to Florida for a third round pick. The average annual value of Versteeg s contract is $2.2-million. To make space for his arrival, the Kings moved Marian Gaborik to long-term injured reserve, freeing up cap space. That move has no bearing on Gaborik s expected return date; he told FOX Sports West earlier this weekthat he expects to miss 10-to-12 weeks. Were Gaborik to return during the playoffs, there would be no salary cap constraints affecting the team. According to financials provided by General Fanager, the Kings now have roughly $3.38M of cap space available. The trade deadline is tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. PT, but based on conversations with hockey operations, Los Angeles is not expected to be a major player on deadline day, having acquired Luke Schenn, Vincent Lecavalier in January and, on Friday, Rob Scuderi in previous trades. I guess the obvious thing [Versteeg brings] is experience, said Luke Schenn, who played with Versteeg with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a couple Cups and he s very good in the playoffs. I had the chance to play with him for probably half or three-quarters of a year in Toronto, and he s a versatile player. He can play the power play, left

4 wing, right wing, everything like that. Obviously we re excited to have him and add that experience. After having lost 4-2 in Anaheim on Sunday, the Kings will return to Staples Center to face the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, beginning a fivegame home stand. Luke Schenn, on Versteeg s versatility: Who knows where they re going to slot him in, but he can adjust. Left wing, right wing, I remember in Toronto he even played a little bit of center, too. I don t know the plan, but he s a good guy. He can probably add something to your power play and I ve seen him kill penalties and everything, too. Checking role, offensive role, he s kind of just, like I said, a very versatile player. Schenn, on keeping things loose, and whether he s good in the room: Yeah, loose is a good way to put it, for sure. From what I remember, he s good in the room like that, kind of keeps things a little bit lighter. Obviously he s had success in a few different places where he s played, and we re all really excited to have him here. February 28, :53 PM By: Jon Rosen Game 63: Los Angeles At Anaheim Anaheim Ducks 4, Los Angeles Kings 2 Third Period, 11:12 remaining Radio Feed LA Kings Insider Preview Boxscore Ice Tracker SOG: LAK 22; ANA 27 PP: LAK 1/3; ANA 3/5 First Period 1) ANA Corey Perry (24) (Sami Vatanen, Ryan Getzlaf), 16:48 2) LAK PPG Alec Martinez (8) (Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar), 19:01 Second Period 3) LAK Tanner Pearson (11) (unassisted), 9:52 4) ANA PPG Corey Perry (25) (Cam Fowler), 17:57 Third Period 5) ANA Corey Perry (26) (Sami Vatanen), 1:27 6) ANA PPG David Perron (11) (Corey Perry), 5:53 Los Angeles Kings ( ) at Anaheim Ducks ( ) Sunday, February 28, 2016, 6:00 p.m. PT Honda Center, Anaheim, CA Referees: #11 Kelly Sutherland, #32 Tom Kowal Linesmen: #57 Jay Sharrers, #79 Kiel Murchison NBCSN, KABC 790 AM, I Heart Radio LAK starters: G Jonathan Quick, D Jake Muzzin, D Drew Doughty, LW Vincent Lecavalier, C Anze Kopitar, RW Jeff Carter LAK scratches: D Jamie McBain, F Andy Andreoff ANA starters: G John Gibson, D Kevin Bieksa, D Cam Fowler, LW David Perron, C Ryan Kesler, RW Ryan Getzlaf ANA scratches: D Clayton Stoner, D Korbinian Holzer, F Harry Zolnierczyk February 28, :46 PM By: Jon Rosen Game 63 Preview: Los Angeles At Anaheim Los Angeles Kings ( ) at Anaheim Ducks ( ) Sunday, February 28, 2016, 6:00 p.m. PT Honda Center, Anaheim, CA Referees: #11 Kelly Sutherland, #32 Tom Kowal Linesmen: #57 Jay Sharrers, #79 Kiel Murchison NBCSN, KABC 790 AM, I Heart Radio Los Angeles Projected Starting Goaltender Jonathan Quick : 49 GP (49 GS) / record / 2.15 GAA /.922 Sv% / 3 SHO Career vs Anaheim: 31 (31) / / 2.53 /.905 / 1 Last Game vs Anaheim: 2/4/15 / 23 MP / 6-9 shots / 2-4 L , Away: 22 (22) / / 2.00 /.934 / 2

5 Anaheim Projected Starting Goaltender: John Gibson : 26 GP (24 GS) / record / 2.10 GAA /.917 Sv% / 4 SHO Career vs Los Angeles: 4 (4) / / 2.25 /.914 / 0 Last Game vs Los Angeles: 2/4/16 / 60 MP / shots / 4-2 W , Home: 15 (14) / / 1.09 /.925 / Los Angeles Leaders Total Points: Anze Kopitar (18-34=52) Goals: Tyler Toffoli (24-21=45) Assists: Anze Kopitar (18-34=52) Plus/Minus: Tyler Toffoli (+26; 24-21=45) Penalty Minutes: Milan Lucic (70; 14-22=36) Time On Ice: Drew Doughty (28:23; 11-28=39) Corsi-For Percentage: Nick Shore (60.9%; 3-6=9) Anaheim Leaders Total Points: Ryan Getzlaf (9-41=50) Goals: Corey Perry (23-18=41) Assists: Ryan Getzlaf (9-41=50) Plus/Minus: Ryan Getzlad (+14; 9-41=50) Penalty Minutes: Chris Stewart (69; 8-10=18)* Time On Ice: Cam Fowler (22:21; 3-16=19) Corsi-For Percentage: Hampus Lindholm (57.9%; 8-11=19) *On inured reserve; active leader is Ryan Kesler (68; 13-20=33) Rankings and Statistics Goals/Game: LAK t-14 / 2.64; ANA t-23 / 2.45 Goals Against/Game: LAK 1 / 2.25; ANA 4 / 2.32 Power Play: LAK 6 / 21.9%; ANA 7 / 21.3% Penalty Kill: LAK 12 / 82.2%; ANA 2 / 86.8% Shots/Game: LAK 2 / 32.7; ANA 8 / 30.8 Shots Against/Game: LAK 5 / 28.0; ANA 3 / 27.4 Faceoffs: LAK t-12 / 50.2%; ANA 4 / 51.4% Save Percentage: LAK t-4 /.920; ANA t-12 /.915 Corsi-for Percentage: LAK 1 / 56.4% / ANA 3 / 53.3% Los Angeles Projected Lines Milan Lucic Anze Kopitar Dustin Brown Dwight King Jeff Carter Tyler Toffoli Tanner Pearson Vincent Lecavalier Trevor Lewis Kyle Clifford Nick Shore Andy Andreoff Jake Muzzin Drew Doughty Alec Martinez Luke Schenn Brayden McNabb Rob Scuderi Jonathan Quick Jhonas Enroth Notes and milestones: Los Angeles is alltime against Anaheim, a record that includes a road mark of Though they have points in six games over the span, the Kings have lost eight of the last 10 games to the Ducks, going Thus far, the teams are in the season series, with each team winning in the opposition s building. Remaining games will be played at Staples Center on March 5 and April 7. Los Angeles is against the Western Conference and against the Pacific Division. The Kings are on the second night of back-to-back sets. Los Angeles is in its last five games (with only nine goals scored) and has won four straight games by scores of 2-1 (OT), 2-1, 2-1 and 2-0. With 465 career points ( =465), Dustin Brown is one point behind Charlie Simmer (466 points) for 10th place overall on the team s all-time list. With 250 career assists, he is one assist from surpassing Mark Hardy for 11th place overall on the team s all-time list. The Kings are in games in which Tanner Pearson scores. Tyler Toffoli ranks second in the league with a plus-26 rating. With 298 career goals, Jeff Carter is two goals shy of 300 in his career. Jonathan Quick has a 0.99 goals-against average and a.964 save percentage during his personal three-game winning streak. Anze Kopitar has 22 goals and 56 points in 52 career games against Anaheim. Milan Lucic has no goals and one assist in 11 career games against Anaheim. Anaheim Projected Lines David Perron-Ryan Getzlaf-Mike Santorelli Nick Ritchie-Rickard Rakell-Corey Perry Andrew Cogliano-Ryan Kesler-Jakob Silfverberg Patrick Maroon-Nate Thompson-Ryan Garbutt

6 Cam Fowler-Kevin Bieksa Hampus Lindholm-Josh Manson Simon Despres-Sami Vatanen John Gibson Frederik Andersen Notes and milestones: Lines via Eric Stephens of the OC Register Anaheim has won seven straight games and has points in nine straight (8-0-1). Only the Ducks, Kings and Capitals have posted two winning streaks of at least six games this season. Anaheim is in its last 16 games. Eight of the last 11 games in this series have been decided by one goal. The Ducks 48 goals since the All- Star Break are the most in the NHL. Anaheim has a power play goal in each of the last seven games, going 10-for-23 over that span. Ryan Getzlaf has six goals and 19 points in 13 games since the All-Star Break, leading the NHL with a plus-13 rating over that span. John Gibson ranks tied for second amongst NHL goalies in goalsagainst average (2.10) and is tied for fourth with four shutouts this season. Amongst rookies, Gibson leads in goals-against average and shutouts, and ranks second with 13 wins and third with a.917 save percentage. Ryan Kesler ranks fourth in the NHL with a faceoff success rate of 58.0%. Andrew Cogliano is the NHL s reigning Ironman, having played in 682 consecutive games since beginning his career on October 4, It is the sixth longest consecutive games played streak in NHL history (Doug Jarvis: 964 consecutive games from 10/75 10/87). February 28, :04 PM By: Jon Rosen Nolan Placed On IR; Roster Flexibility Created Los Angeles placed forward Jordan Nolan (undisclosed) on injured reserve Sunday afternoon in a move that creates roster flexibility in advance of Monday s 12:00 p.m. trading deadline. Nolan last played in the 2-1 overtime loss to St. Louis on February 28, so he s eligible to come off injured reserve at any time. With Nolan s placement on IR, they now have 22 active players on the 23-man roster. Should the Kings make a trade in advance of the deadline, they now have an open roster spot for a player should they choose to trade a draft pick or a prospect for an NHL-based asset. Nolan did not skate at Honda Center Sunday morning and has missed four consecutive games with an injury that is not expected to keep him sidelined for any serious length of time. Like Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick before him, Nolan s injury is of the day-today variety. Los Angeles had made a serious push for rental forward Teddy Purcell, though negotiations with Edmonton stalled late Friday when a prospect believed to be Nikolai Prokhorkin would not sign a contract and commit to playing in North America. Though a deal appeared to be in place, Purcell ultimately was traded to Florida for a third round pick. In 52 games this season, Nolan has five assists, an even rating and 38 penalty minutes. February 28, :01 PM By: Jon Rosen Sutter, Muzzin On Defense, PK, Avoiding Forechecks A quick update from Anaheim: Both the Kings and Ducks held optional morning skates at a quiet Honda Center as most Kings kicked a soccer ball around downstairs and took part in meetings with members of the team staff. I spoke with both Jake Muzzin and Darryl Sutter on a variety of topics related to the defenseman s continued emergence and trust in key situations. Those transcripts are below. Darryl Sutter, on what he liked about last night s penalty killing: Didn t have to kill many. [Reporter: While you were killing, too, it seemed there were a lot of full, length-of-the-ice clears. Anything that stood out to you?] Those clears would ve been based on probably faceoff wins, I would think, most of em. Sutter, on Jake Muzzin s growth into absorbing a variety of situations: For the players to become top-four defensemen,

7 they have to be able to play first minute, last minute, probably more penalty killing than power play, to be quite honest, to be top-four guys that are on good teams. There are top-four guys that can only play on the power play or can t play in situations, they re basically offensive guys that don t play consistently on good teams. And he has, obviously, come along very well into a top-four role, and we think the ideal place for him is with Drew, so that means you re on the ice in a lot of situations. I think you see Muzz is still developing. He s still maturing as a player, and if you look last night, in the last minute, how important [it is] bringing in a role player in that can play 20 minutes like Scuderi can. Sutter, on if there are more all-situational, balanced defensemen in today s game: I think we re all looking for that, Jon. Are there more? No, there are not. Just do it. Just go back to your room today and just do it. There s not more. If you look at everybody s six defensemen, there s still a blend in there. I think that that s way blown out of proportion, this wheel-and-deal thing. Championship teams, look at the Boston and Chicago teams, there s a blend of defensemen there. Guys who can play the whole 200-foot game that have a good skill set that are also great defenders. Jake Muzzin, on last night s penalty killing: I thought we did a good job not letting them get set up. When you let teams get set up, they re obviously going to create chances and opportunities, and we kind of limited that on the rush and got pucks out and made them do a lot of breakouts. It was big for us. Muzzin, on how Rob Scuderi affects the team s defensive rotation: He s obviously a great penalty killer and has been his whole career and calms down the back end a little bit with a veteran presence and a guy who s been around and showed his leadership and experience on the penalty kill and five-on-five and near the end of the games as well. Just keeping things calm and not getting too frantic in our zone, it helps. Muzzin, on how he has grown into becoming a trusted, all-situational defender: A lot of it comes from experience and them giving me the opportunity and building that trust with the coaches and yourself. It s a position you want to be in. You want to be the guy that they look to go to, whether to score a goal or defend a one-goal lead or whatever the situation is. You want to be the guy and get excited for the opportunity and to help the team win. A lot of it comes, like I said, with experience and getting put in those situations and succeeding in them and learning from them when they don t go so well, so it s just a process. That s pretty much it. Muzzin, on how he d evaluate his season: I feel good. Obviously there are ups and downs throughout the season, and points come and go, but the defensive part of my game I feel has come a step this year with the penalty kill responsibility and the trust factor with the coaches and stuff like that. I m happy with it, and there s obviously room for improvement, and we re going to need it coming down the stretch. Muzzin, on what makes Anaheim s forecheck unique: There are teams that come and they want to forecheck the puck, and there are teams that come and they want to forecheck you, and this is a team that s going to come and hit you. You know they re coming to hit you, so you ve just got to be ready for it and answer the bell, hit them back or set picks, give yourself a little bit more time. If we re quick and executing properly, we can use it to our advantage. February 28, :13 PM By: Jon Rosen Waking Up With The Kings: February 28 After the Sabres had their chances early and controlled play through the first eight to 10 minutes of the game, the Kings gave up very, very little in their 2-0 win at Staples Center. By the middle of the second period a very strong second period by Los Angeles, it should be added Buffalo wasn t sustaining any semblance of an attack and was getting few looks from down low in the offensive zone. After the first period, the visitors best chance came during the 30 seconds of chance-trading at

8 both ends, when both Robin Lehner and Jhonas Enroth were called upon to make a flurry of saves in an up-tempo sequence. The Sabres have had trouble scoring all season, and against a Kings team that s now in their last five games despite scoring a grand total of nine goals over that stretch, Saturday night s game didn t present the clearest opportunity for the visitors to strengthen their offensive credentials. Part of the success Los Angeles had in keeping Buffalo off the scoreboard came from an airtight penalty kill. I just spoke with Darryl Sutter, who liked that the team didn t take many penalties to begin with the Dwight King hook on Jack Eichel was also probably a bogus call but I m willing to believe that last night the team had the most full length clears per 60 minutes out of any game to this point in the season. The Sabres were hardly able to set up in the offensive zone, and that s because the Kings were efficient on the faceoff dot, winning four of six draws while shorthanded, and suppressing high-quality opportunities. Via War-on- Ice, Buffalo logged one total scoring chance in six minutes of power play time. Blackhawks, who have found success without the puck when their quick forwards close a gap with their defensemen on the backcheck, and the defensemen are content chipping the puck off the glass and out of the zone when pressured. Despite his limitations, Los Angeles is still a more comfortable fit for both sides. Scuderi still has a very good stick; tonight, though, will present a stark challenge as he faces a Ducks team capable of making heavy hits below the goal line and forechecking opposing defensemen into key turnovers deep in their defending zone. If he s in a 14-minute range, he should ably fill a depth role on the blue line; if he s seeing 19 minutes more regularly, there s an uncomfortable potential for high-risk situations against the Western Conference s elite teams.. Rob Scuderi was efficient in his return to the Kings. While people should be wary of a 37-year-old Scuderi getting 19 minutes regularly, hey, let s face it, he never really had a step to lose in the first place. He s built an impressive career through his positioning and intelligence, and those aren t aspects that deteriorate like other more skill-based attributes. There was clearly an unholy marriage between the veteran defenseman and the up-tempo

9 FROM LAKINGS.COM February 28, :36 PM By: Alex Kinkopf Kings Win-Streak Snapped In 4-2 Loss To Anaheim Martinez And Pearson Provide Scoring For Kings, Anaheim s Perry Nets Hat-Trick ANAHEIM Seeing the NHL s hottest team Sunday evening, the Anaheim Ducks, the Kings four-game win streak was snapped in their 4-2 loss at Honda Center. Anaheim s Corey Perry broke a four-game pointless streak, registering four points in the Kings loss, scoring his ninth-career NHL hat-trick. For the Kings, it was their second game in less than 24 hours, and their first regulation loss in the second half of a back-to-back set this season. The Kings came into the night with an outstanding mark when playing their second game in as many days. The Ducks extended their win streak to eight games, they re in their last 20, and are now just two points behind the Kings for the Pacific Division s top spot with one game in hand. Corey Perry opened the scoring with just over three minutes remaining in the first, burying the first of Anaheim s three power play goals to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead. The Kings responded with a power play marker of their own when Alec Martinez rifled home a shot from the right point past John Gibson to tie the score 1-1 with 59 seconds left to play in the opening frame. Midway through the second, the Kings took a 2-1 lead when Tanner Pearson capitalized on a fortuitous bounce that landed right on his stick while he was on the forecheck. Pearson easily shoveled the puck past a bewildered John Gibson. Corey Perry banked a shot off of Jonathan Quick from the goal-line to tie the score 2-2 with two minutes left in the second. Just over a minute into the third, Perry gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead when he squeaked a shot through Jonathan Quick s skates. David Perron gave Anaheim a 4-2 lead with 16:07 remaining in regulation, recovering a Kings turnover and beating Quick high to the glove side. With 12 minutes left to play, Milan Lucic seemed to bring the Kings back to within a goal, but Anaheim challenged the call for offside, which video replay confirmed, overturning the call on the ice. The Kings are now against Anaheim this season, they ll host the Ducks Saturday afternoon at STAPLES Center. Drew Doughty (1A), Anze Kopitar (1A), Alec Martinez (1G) and Tanner Pearson (1G) led all Kings players in points scored (1), Jake Muzzin in shots taken (7), Jake Muzzin in hits delivered (6), Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez in shots blocked (4), and Drew Doughty in minutes played (28:31). Jonathan Quick made 25 saves in the loss.

10 Following three days rest, the Kings will being a five-game home stand Thursday night when they take on the Montreal Canadiens at STAPLES Center, where the puck is scheduled to drop just after 7:30 PM PST. February 28, :25 PM Kings Acquire Forward Kris Versteeg From Carolina Carolina Receives Forward Valentin Zykov And A Conditional Fifth-Round Pick LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Kings have acquired forward Kris Versteeg from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Valentin Zykov and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2016, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today. Versteeg, 29, has played in 63 games with the Hurricanes this year, recording 33 points (11-22=33) and 36 penalty minutes. The 5-11, 176-pound native of Lethbridge, AB has played for the Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs during his nine-year NHL career, including winning two Stanley Cups (2010 and 2015 with Chicago). In 535 career regular-season games he has 308 points ( =308), a plus-16 rating and 311 penalty minutes. Drafted in the fifth-round (134th overall) by the Boston Bruins during the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, the two-time Stanley Cup champion has appeared in 84 playoff games overall. He has posted 42 points (16-26=42) and 66 penalty minutes during that time. Zykov, 20, appeared in 43 games this season with the Ontario Reign (AHL), posting 14 points (2-8=10), a plus- 7 rating and 20 penalty minutes. He was drafted by the Kings in the second-round (37th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft. February 28, :00 PM Kings Place Forward Jordan Nolan On Injured Reserve LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Kings have placed forward Jordan Nolan on injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 18, President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today. The 26-year-old Nolan (born June 23, 1989) is a 6-3, 219-pound native of Garden River, First Nations, ON who has appeared in 52 games this season, recording five points (0-5=5) and 38 penalty minutes. Nolan has appeared in 246 regular-season games over five seasons in the NHL, all with the Kings, posting 34 points (16-18=34) and 220 penalty minutes. February 28, :00 PM By: Alex Kinkopf Big Points On The Table As Kings Visit Anaheim Anaheim Has Won Six Straight At Home Since The Kings Previous Visit To Honda Center ANAHEIM BOUND: Tonight marks the third of five meetings with the Ducks this season and the Kings second and final visit to Anaheim s Honda Center. The Ducks are playing the fourth of a five-game home stand where they ve gone thus far; they re coming off of a 2-1 OT win over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night. The Kings are on the road for one game; they re coming off of a 2-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night.

11 BACK-TO-BACK: Games in consecutive days can often be a cause for concern, but for the Kings this season, they ve been delightfully successful in back-to-back sets. Tonight will complete the Kings 10th two-in-two of the season, and in the second game of back-to-back sets, they re an outstanding 8-0-1, not having lost once in regulation. LINEUP: The Kings held an optional morning skate at Honda Center in anticipation of tonight s game. No changes are expected to be made to the lineup the team skated with Saturday night. Jordan Nolan is expected to be placed on injured-reserve. Jonathan Quick, who was given Saturday night off to rest, will start in goal. FORWARDS LUCIC KOPITAR BROWN KING CARTER TOFFOLI PEARSON LECAVALIER LEWIS CLIFFORD SHORE ANDREOFF (MERSCH) DEFENSEMEN MUZZIN DOUGHTY MARTINEZ SCHENN MCNABB SCUDERI (MCBAIN) GOALTENDERS QUICK (ENROTH) TWO IN THREE: The Kings will see the Ducks twice over the course of their next three games, and huge points are on the board. Yeah, we know what s going on, said Jeff Carter when asked if the team is aware of Anaheim s push in the standings. I think both clubs know how big it is, it s definitely a four-point game, Tanner Pearson said Saturday. Us three, with San Jose in the mix is pretty close right now, so every point counts for sure. RIVALRY FAMILIARITY: Defenseman Rob Scuderi logged 19:07 minutes in his first game back with the Kings Saturday night, recording an assist, two shots, and one shot blocked. Having played four seasons in Los Angeles, Scuderi is well aware of what the Kings-Ducks rivalry brings to the table, namely on the road at Honda Center. I think have a big start, said Scuderi. Usually that s the best way to get yourself going, especially in a road rink, to take some of the air out of the building to have a good first five and ten minutes, it goes a long way I think. THE LAST TIME AROUND: The Kings have split their two meetings with the Ducks so far this season, winning 3-2 on January 17 at Honda Center and falling 4-2 on February 4 at STAPLES Center. Anze Kopitar leads the Kings in points scored against the Ducks this season with four (1G, 3A), Tyler Toffoli with the most goals (2G). Jonathan Quick has started both games against Anaheim, making 30 saves in the Kings win, and being pulled early in the second period in the team s loss. ANAHEIM HOT: The Ducks come into the night riding a seven-game win streak, with points earned in 15 of their last 16 games (14-1-1) since their previous game against the Kings on January 17. Anaheim has not lost on

12 home ice since the Kings previous visit to Honda Center, going against visiting teams since then. The Ducks, with one game in-hand on the Kings, come into the night trailing Los Angeles by only four points in the Pacific Division standings. WE RE DOING IT LIVE: Tonight s game will be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network, with coverage starting from Honda Center just prior to puck drop at 6:00 PM PST. You can listen to the Kings very own Nick Nickson and Daryl Evans call the action over the radio airwaves on AM 790 KABC. FROM LATIMES.COM February 29, :35 PM By: Curtis Zupke What We Learned From Ducks 4-2 Win Over The Kings Like a greyhound chasing the rabbit on the track, the Ducks are inching toward the Kings in the Pacific Division. A 4-2 win Sunday brought the Ducks to two points behind the first-place Kings. The Ducks are since Christmas and in their last 17 games, while the Kings five-game point streak came to a grinding halt. Here s what we learned: There is no end in sight for this Ducks run Anaheim is two wins shy of its franchise-record 10-game streak from December of Its power play is 17- for-57 in the last 15 games, and it has held opponents to a team-record 142 goals through 61 games. To think, the Ducks were 16 points behind the Kings on Jan. 12. We trusted this team, Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen said. We knew when we get everybody buying in and doing things, and we get a couple of bounces, it will turn around and we will have the success that we have right now. The Kings are showing signs of wear They were an NHL-best in the second game of a back-to-back set before Sunday. Kings Coach Darryl Sutter cites the schedule frequently as a factor, and he brought it up again after the game. We made some tired mistakes, Sutter said. I think guys looked a little gassed... it s going to happen when you get caught in a turnaround against a good team like that. The Ducks are against the Kings in the regular season since the season. Of course, the Kings eliminated the Ducks in seven games in the 2014 conference semifinals. Said Anze Kopitar, Our game overall has to be better if we want to beat this team. Ryan Kesler is fine Kesler threw a scare into all in attendance when he was struck by Jake Muzzin's slap shot in the final seconds and lay prone for about a minute before he got up off the ice.

13 "He's sore, obviously," Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "The puck hit him in the upper region. But he's a tough competitor and he's going to be fine." February 28, :35 PM By: Curtis Zupke High-Powered Ducks Shared Kings Usually Stout Defense Add the trade deadline to a Kings-Ducks game and it might as well be a full moon. Both teams had been plodding through low-scoring games of late until they combined for perhaps the most entertaining meeting of the season Sunday night. There was Corey Perry's hat trick, plus a fluky bounce goal, a disallowed goal and an in-game trade by the Kings, whose lack of offense finally caught up to them while the Ducks kept rolling with a 4-2 win at a raucous Honda Center. The Ducks' eighth straight win moved them to within two points of the first-place Kings in the Pacific Division. The Ducks have typically downplayed their attention to the standings, but Perry broached the topic of the division crown. I think you've got to keep pushing for it, he said. It's right there. We can see it in our sights now, and it's getting closer. But at the same time, we've just got to keep playing our style of game. The Ducks powered through behind Perry, who wrapped an eventful second period when he grabbed a loose puck off the end glass and flipped it up and off of Kings goalie Jonathan Quick on the power play to tie the score, 2-2. Early in the third, Perry's second whack made it through Quick for the go-ahead goal to complete the hat trick at 1:27. The goals were Perry's 24th, 25th and 26th this season. Obviously he was a guy we circled on the board, like many other guys on their team, Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. We can't let guys like that have that big an impact. We need our top players to shut those type of guys down, play them physical, and run them out of the building, and we weren't able to do that. The Kings have scored two goals in each of the last five games. But defense was a bigger issue. Four goals three by the Ducks' power play were the most they have allowed in eight games, and they lacked their usual detail. That was evident when Nick Shore was stripped of the puck by Perry, who set up David Perron for the Ducks' fourth goal. Adding to the Kings' woes was that time was not put back on the clock after Milan Lucic's goal was challenged by the Ducks and disallowed because of offsides, with the score 4-2 in the third. We told [the officials] they should [have put time back on], Doughty said. They didn't listen to us. Alec Martinez and Tanner Pearson scored for the Kings. Pearson, who scored twice Saturday against Buffalo on rebounds right to his stick, was gifted again when a pass by Ducks defenseman Simon Despres took an odd carom off the corner boards to the slot, and Pearson easily converted past an unaware Ducks goalie John Gibson.

14 Ryan Getzlaf extended his point streak to 11 games, the longest active streak in the NHL. Kings get Versteeg The Kings moved to address their lack of offense with the acquisition of winger Kris Versteeg from the Carolina Hurricanes for prospect Valentin Zykov and a conditional fifth-round draft choice this year. The deal was made official during the third period. Monday is the NHL's trade deadline. An individual not authorized to comment on the deal said the conditions of the draft choice would be based on the Kings' playoff success and number of games played. To make room for Versteeg's $2.2-million salary cap hit, the Kings on Friday put Marian Gaborik on long-term injured reserve. Versteeg had 11 goals and 33 points in 63 games with Carolina this season. In another off-ice move, the Kings put Jordan Nolan on injured reserve. February 28, :35 PM By: Helene Elliott Corey Perry And The Ducks Are Flying High Because They Refused To Give Up On Themselves Through the worst of times, when the Ducks were winning once in their first 10 games and right wing Corey Perry's scoring touch was nowhere to be found until the team's 12th game, he and they refused to accept that they were as bad as the standings and the statistics indicated. "We dug ourselves a hole," he said, "and we found a way to get out of it." The Ducks gave themselves a lot of digging to do, but they've erased nearly their entire deficit. Perry's hat trick in the Ducks' 4-2 victory over the Kings on Sunday did more than trigger a shower of caps from the stands at Honda Center: it moved the Ducks within two points of the division-leading Kings and increased their winning streak to eight games. Over the longer term, they're since returning from the Christmas break. "Everybody is contributing and playing their role," Perry said after recording his ninth career hat trick, a number that's second in franchise history to the 13 recorded by Teemu Selanne, and assisting on the David Perron goal that closed the scoring for the Ducks. "Everybody has found a spot on this team to go out there and do the right things, and it's working." All three goals were vintage Perry from around the net, all made possible by the tenacity and peskiness that make him so unpopular in rinks around thenhl. Those same qualities, though, helped make him the NHL's most valuable player for the season, a Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist. The distance on his three goals Sunday might have added up to 15 feet. "That's him," center Ryan Getzlaf said cheerfully. "He did a great job showing up in a big game tonight. We're getting used to that over the years but he's been really good as of late and it's nice to see him get rewarded." Perry freely acknowledged that his goals one in the first period, one in the second and one in the third were due in part to luck. And the Ducks were lucky, too, that the timekeepers erroneously did not run the clock back after an apparent goal by the Kings in the third period was reviewed and found to have been offside. The

15 Kings should have gotten about 35 seconds back after the Ducks successfully challenged the play, as league officials told The Times via . But in Perry's case, at least, luck was the residue of hard work. "I had some good bounces tonight," he said, referring to a fortunate bounce off the end boards on his second goal, a power-play goal at 17 minutes 57 seconds of the second period that went off the end boards and then off goaltender Jonathan Quick. "Those are bounces that you need.... We had three power-play goals, so our power play was working tonight. It's a close-checking game out there when you play those guys. It's a man's game. You've got to be ready to play." They were ready Sunday, with a division title, so unlikely a quest in October and November and into December, now a realistic goal. "We can see it in our sights now and it's getting closer," Perry said. "But at the same time we've got to keep playing our style of game, keep going out there doing what we do and keep working hard." Coach Bruce Boudreau said he never doubted that Perry (26 goals) and Getzlaf (an 11-game scoring streak) would awaken and become as productive as they've been lately. "You have to believe guys like Corey and Getzlaf are going to turn it around. Their body of work over the last 10 years has proved that they're going to be that good in the end," Boudreau said. "I think when he won the Hart Trophy, in March [of that season] he scored in every game, type of thing. "He knows where the net is and in big games, he's a good player, a great player." And he's playing for a team that has been very, very good, despite what it looked like at the start. "We trusted this team," defenseman Sami Vatanen said. "We knew when we get everybody buying in and doing things and we get a couple bounces, it will turn around and we will have the success like we have right now." February 28, :10 PM By: Lisa Dillman Kings Acquire Winger Kris Versteeg In Trade With Hurricanes Ever since winger Marian Gaborik went down with a long-term knee injury, the Kings have been looking to fill the scoring void created by his absence. On Sunday, they turned to the much-traveled winger Kris Versteeg, acquiring him in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. They sent prospect Valentin Zykov, who was a second-round draft choice in 2013 (37th overall), and a conditional fifth-round draft choice in 2016 to the Hurricanes. The deal was made official during the third period of the Kings-Ducks game in Anaheim on Sunday night. Monday is the NHL's trade deadline. An individual not authorized to comment said the conditions of the future draft choice were based on the Kings' playoff success and number of games played.

16 Elliotte Friedman of SportsNet first reported that the Kings would be acquiring Versteeg, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 and That championship pedigree and his vast postseason experience (84 playoff games) were attractive elements for the Kings. The Hurricanes were in the midst of a swift remake this weekend, sending their captain Eric Staal to the New York Rangers in a trade earlier Sunday. It was clear that they had something else developing when they pulled Versteeg out of Sunday's game against the St. Louis Blues. To make room for Versteeg's $2.2-million cap hit, the Kings were able to absorb that by putting Gaborik on long-term injured reserve, a move they made Friday. Versteeg had 11 goals and 33 points in 63 games with the Hurricanes this season. In Sunday's game, he was on the third line with Riley Nash and Chris Terry but has been paired, of late, with Staal and Elias Lindholm. FROM LADAILYNEWS.COM February 28, :35 PM By: Mark Whicker Whicker: Latest Victory Shows Anaheim Ducks Know How To Beat LA Kings ANAHEIM >> The playoffs came early to Honda Center Sunday night, or maybe the Kings just showed up late. For the second time in 24 days, the Ducks beat Los Angeles by a 4-2 score, and it took a weird bounce off the glass behind Ducks goaltender John Gibson to make it that close. That quirky goal happened in the second period, with Tanner Pearson seeing the play and taking the puck within tap-in distance of Gibson, after Simon Despres pass ricocheted unpredictably. That put the Kings ahead 2-1 and also ended their offensive highlights for the evening, unless you count a goal by Milan Lucic that was negated, via replay, by Anze Kopitar skating into the zone too early. Game staff members mistakenly failed to reset the clock on the Kings power play, although Drew Doughty said the Kings told the officials that time should go back on the clock. Corey Perry s hat trick was the conversation piece, but the Ducks continued their strong defensive play and braked the Kings impressively in the neutral zone. Newcomer David Perron was strong, defenseman Hampus Lindholm continued to look like a star waiting to happen, and Anaheim raised its record to since Christmas. There are plenty of Yule logarithms to support this revival, but it just shows how incomprehensively long a professional sports season is, and the best conclusion is an unjumped one. You can t give up that many goals on the power play, said the Kings Drew Doughty, as the Ducks scored three. I thought we made some tired mistakes, Kings coahc Darryl Sutter said, referring to Saturday night s late game against Buffalo. We were gassed at the end. Nominally the Kings and Ducks were fighting over the Pacific Division lead, which L.A. had by four points coming in. Presumably both teams are clear on how little that means, come playoff time.

17 Right now the Kings would be the second seed in the Western Conference and would play Nashville in the first round. The Ducks, at No. 2 in the division, would meet No. 3 San Jose. Many people would prefer to play the Sharks in that circumstance. Nashville has the better goaltender, when he s on, in Pekka Rinne, and also has one of the world s best defensemen in Shea Weber. It s also a longer trip with more late-night temptation. But neither team was realy fixated on that, not with the trade deadline coming up at noon Monday, and especially with the prospect of taking large hunks out of each other. Not even goalies Jonathan Quick and John Gibson could avoid the shrapnel, and during one scrum the refs practically needed a miner s light to find Perry beneath the pile. There s no question that a Kings-Ducks night is the best thing going in L.A. sports these days, even with so much roster renovation. There are five new Ducks skaters in the rotation from last year, and only eight nongoalies were around when the Ducks lost a seven-game second-round series to L.A. in The Kings have changed, too, and picked up winger Kris Versteeg from Carolina Sunday. Versteeg earned a Stanley Cup ring in Chicago in He was back with the Blackhawks last year but didn t get much ice time, and his addition, along with that of defenseman Rob Scuderi, is a paean to that sacred playoff experience. We need him for depth, Sutter said. We ve been playing three and a half lines since Gabby (Marian Gaborik) went out. The Ducks usually do something as the clock ticks down, although they have the best record in hockey since Christmas and are loath to disrupt the vibes they have built. They could use another active scorer, though, because they rank 29th in five-on-five goals and are 28th in power play opportunities. Anaheim has a backlog of defensemen. Shea Theodore, who looked more than NHL-ready when he was filling in for Cam Fowler, is back in the minors at San Diego. The rumors have the Ducks offering a defenseman to Tampa Bay for Jonathan Drouin, a former No. 4 pick in the draft who impatiently asked the Lightning to trade him. That s a red flag for an unproven player, but what if the kid proves he s right? The Kings would like a high-minutes defenseman to ease the burden on Doughty,. In six of Doughty s last eight games, he has logged at least 30 minutes, although his average of 28 minutes per game is one minute lower than last year. Of course, if they re going to move the playoffs a month and a half early, maybe the afternoon naps should start immediately. February 29, 2016 By: Mark Whicker Whicker: Kings Fall To Ducks, Could Add Help At NHL Trade Deadline DUCKS 4, KINGS 2, THE MORNING AFTER: The NHL trade deadline arrives at noon Monday. It s a day of microscopic analysis and breathless rumortracking by the Canadian media, and the NHL Network usually carries the TSN feed. If the chatterers are right, the Kings are at least talking about getting a veteran defenseman, either Dan Hamhuis of the Canucks or Kris Russell of the Flames. Russell led the league in blocked shots last season. Hamhuis is a gifted puck mover and

18 skater who can become a free agent at the end of the season and is expected to try to get back to Vancouver in the offseason. Sunday was the ninth game of 11 in which the Kings have given up at least one power-play goal, and this time it was three, two by Corey Perry and one by David Perron. I don t think there s anything we re not doing in particular, Drew Doughty said. A couple of those goals were probably lucky ones. It s just the same stuff we talk about, blocking shots and trying to get clears. But we can t let Perry do that to us. It also might be due to a sizzling Anaheim power play that has scored at least once in eight consecutive games. That s Anaheim s longest power-play streak in seven seasons and makes for a 13-for-28 performance in those games. Doughty played 28:31, which is a little higher than his average. Ryan Kesler led the Ducks faceoff success by winning 16 of 23. The Ducks were for the night and came into the game ranked fourth in the NHL. The Kings picked up winger Kris Versteeg from Carolina Sunday but had to give up 20-year-old Valentin Zykov, a prospect they ve touted for some time. Zykov had only 14 points in 43 games for the Ontario Reign this year, so maybe the thrill is gone. Versteeg had 11 goals and 33 points for the Hurricanes. He was on Cupwinning teams in Chicago in 2010 and 2015, although he was far more instrumental in the first one. The trade does not indicate that Marian Gaborik is coming back soon. Darryl Sutter pointed out that he s been playing shorthanded for a while now. The frequent penalties on Sunday forced Sutter to play Anze Kopitar over 24 minutes, and Dwight King and Jeff Carter both played fewer than 15. The most costly penalty was Tyler Toffoli s tripping call, 5:47 into the third period, after the Ducks had taken a 3-2 lead. Ryan Getzlaf won the next faceoff and David Perron took advantage of the Kings inability to clear the puck, and scored six seconds later. Toffoli was on the way to a 19-minute night, and Sutter chalked that one up to fatigue. The Kings are since Jan. 2, although they had a four-game winning streak before this loss. There isn t real concern but maybe some faint apprehension, which is why a trade or two could change the outlook. They have two games left with the Ducks, both at Staples Center -- Saturday afternoon and April 7. As For the Ducks it s impossible to watch them without noticing the added aggression and confidence of defenseman Hampus Lindholm, who ony turned 22 in January. The league-wide consensus is that the Ducks have a very nice team that won t win anything significant until it gets or breeds a dominating defenseman. Not saying Lindholm is that guy, but he will be if he keeps improving at this rate, and besides, Anaheim s defense is fine and was fine during the darkness of the autumn. The Ducks have only given up 142 goals in 61 games, which is a club record. The Ducks are 10-3 in their past 13 regular season games against the Kings, a number easily forgotten when the real season starts. But with every bit of roster turnover, fewer Kings and fewer Ducks remember Game 7 in that 2014 series, the one that helped boost the Kings to their second Stanley Cup and sent the Ducks into another vapid off-season. Justin Williams doesn t live here anymore, although he and the league-best Washington Capitals will be in Anaheim March 7 and in L.A. on March 9. Expect a warm videoboard salute to Williams in Staples Center that night. A wistful one, too.