Here's something you might not know... or care about. But the reason the Kings, Lakers, and Clippers all go on their long road trip this time of the year is because of the Grammys on February 10th @ Staples Center.
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Game Time: 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Location: Wachovia Center | Philadelphia, PA
TV Broadcast: Away Team: FSN-W
Home Team: CSN-PH (HD)
Radio Broadcast: 1150 AM; XM 238 Online broadcast: NHL Radio Internet Stream: Must use Sopcast 
A good surge before the All-Star break got the Philadelphia Flyers into first place, but could not get the Los Angeles Kings out of last.
Both clubs look to carry their momentum into the second half of the season as the Kings, opening an eight-game road trip, visit Philadelphia on Tuesday for the first time in nearly five years.
A season after finishing with the league's worst record, the Flyers (27-16-5) have moved into a tie with New Jersey atop the Atlantic Division by going 11-2-1 in their last 14 games.
Los Angeles (20-29-2) won five of its final seven games leading into the break, but still has the fewest points of any team in the league. Coach Marc Crawford hopes four days off for All-Star festivities can further rejuvenate his club.
This is the first of eight straight road games for Los Angeles, which does not play at home again until Feb. 15. The trip includes games against every Atlantic Division team as well as trips to Detroit, Columbus and St. Louis.
It's been almost eight years since the Kings won in Philadelphia. They have played there only twice since that victory, with the last visit coming on Feb. 20, 2003 as the Flyers won 5-0. Philadelphia is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings, including a 4-3 win on Nov. 16, 2006 in the most recent matchup as Umberger scored twice.
The Flyers are 8-1-1 at home versus Los Angeles, with the only regulation loss coming on April 1, 1993.
The Kings have a road record of 8-13-1, and their last 10 games is a record of 5-5.
The Flyers have a home record of 11-6-5, and their last 10 games is a record of 8-1-1.
The Kings will continue their road trip on Thursday night at Nassau Coliseum against the New York Islanders.
"Any time you beat a team like that and a rival, it’s huge,’’
Jason LaBarbera said. "It’s a great way to go into the break. We can enjoy ourselves for the next couple of days.’’
"We're buying into the system and our goalie has been great," said
Derek Armstrong, who had a goal and an assist in Thursday's 3-1 win over Anaheim. "When you play with a structure, you have a chance to win every night."
"We’re playing much better and I think everyone sees that,’’
Kopitar said. "We aren’t giving up a lot of goals. We are limiting the chances we give up and we’re creating offense better than we did before.’’
"Yeah, that was pretty nice,''
Purcell said. "It was a great pass from Modry on the breakout. We had a 2-on-1 and it was a good job by Army letting me know I had some time there and he was going to net. I just made a pass and he made a nice goal.''
"We really like the contributions of these young guys that have come in,’’
Marc Crawford said. "I think our players are getting more excited to have youth in our group.’’
"Right now we have so many injuries that I don’t think it's a question,''
Crawford said. "It doesn’t look like Cammalleri will be back immediately. It doesn’t look like Nagy will even go on the trip. Willsie is probably the closest but I think he still may be a little bit away. So I suspect those guys will continue on with us. I don’t know if they will go back and play some games for the Monarchs here now during the break. They have played well. I thought their contribution ton was good on the scoreboard but particularly good just overall.''
"I thought it would be better the last four or five days but it's not getting better so I'm staying here,''
Nagy said. "Hopefully the next couple of days it will be much better because it's getting frustrating. It's like a detachment of a nerve. There's a burning that goes all the way to my left side. I've never felt anything like it before. I had knee surgery and that didn't bother me like this one.''
Los Angeles Kings
Mike Cammalleri (Injured ribs on 12/26/07) IR
Ladislav Nagy (Sore neck on 1/19/08) day-to-day
Brian Willsie (Sore lower back injury on 1/15/08) day-to-day
Philadelphia Flyers
Rory Fitzpatrick (Sports hernia on 1/16/07) IR
Joffrey Lupul (Bruised spinal cord and mild concussion on 1/6/08) IR
Mike Rathje (Hip/back injury on 10/3/07) IR
***No Recent Meetings***
Here are the results from PAST meetings:
11/16/06 - Flyers @ Kings 4-3 (Flyers win)
2/20/03 - Kings @ Flyers 5-0 (Flyers win)
Leading Scorers:
Forwards: 
Kopitar, LA - 46 points (19 G, 27 A, -14) |
Richards, PHI - 55 points (21G, 34 A, +13) Defensemen: 
Visnovsky, LA - 28 points (5 G, 23 A, -18) | Timonen, PHI - 27 points (7 G, 20 A, -2)
GAA:
LA – 3.27 (28th in NHL)
PHI – 2.81 (20th in NHL)
Avg. Goals:
LA – 2.75 (13th in NHL)
PHI – 3.33 (2nd in NHL)
Power Play %:
LA – 19.5 (5th in NHL)
PHI – 24.9 (1st in NHL)
Penalty Kill %:
LA – 78.6 (28th in NHL)
PHI – 80.7 (22nd in NHL)
(As of 1/28/08)
Pacific Division Standings:
1. San Jose Sharks (27-15-7) 61 pts
2. Dallas Stars (28-20-5) 61 pts
3. Anaheim Ducks (27-20-6) 60 pts
4. Phoenix Coyotes (26-21-2) 54 pts
5. Los Angeles Kings (20-29-2) 42 pts
Western Conference Standings:
1 Red Wings 78
2 Sharks 61
3 Wild 59
4 Stars 61
5 Ducks 60
6 Flames 58
7 Canucks 57
8 Avalanche 56
9 Blue Jackets 56
10 Predators 55
11 Coyotes 54
12 Blues 51
13 Oilers 51
14 Blackhawks 50
15 Kings 42
Key/Division Games Tonight:
Predators @ Bruins 4:00 PM PT | 7:00 PM EST
Penguins @ Devils 4:00 PM PT | 7:00 PM ET
Senators @ Islanders 4:00 PM PT | 7:00 PM ET
Rangers @ Hurricanes 4:00 PM PT | 7:00 PM ET
Coyotes @ Blue Jackets 4:00 PM PT | 7:00 PM ET
Sabres @ Lightning 4:00 PM PT | 7:00 PM ET
Blues @ Maple Leafs 4:30 PM PT | 7:30 PM ET
Capitals @ Canadiens 4:30 PM PT | 7:30 PM ET
Sharks @ Oilers 6:30 PM PT | 9:30 PM ET
Stars @ Canucks 7:00 PM PT | 10:00 PM ET