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About This Page: This is a discussion on LA Kings Talk within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. @
Los Angeles Kings (23-31-3) 49 pts
@
Columbus Blue Jackets (26-23-8) 60 pts
Game Time: 3:00 PM PST | 6:00 PM EST
Location: Nationwide Arena | Columbus,
The Columbus Blue Jackets haven't needed any power-play goals to dominate the Los Angeles Kings this season, but struggling with the man advantage has been too much for them to overcome in recent home games.
Saddled with a three-game losing streak at Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets look to complete a sweep of the season series against the Kings when the teams meet Sunday night.
Columbus (26-23-8) is 3-0-0 against Los Angeles (23-30-3) this season despite going a combined 0-for-10 with the man advantage. A win Sunday would be the Blue Jackets' fifth straight home victory over the Kings, and would give Columbus a sweep of Los Angeles for the first time since winning all four games between the teams in 2002-03.
This certainly isn't the only season the Blue Jackets have had trouble scoring against the Kings on the power play. Columbus has converted just 5.9 percent (3-for-52) of its power-play opportunities versus Los Angeles in the teams' last 11 meetings, although it is 6-5-0 during that span.
The Blue Jackets, who have scored on just 15.8 percent (40-for-253) of their chances with the man advantage overall this season, have gone 0-for-10 en route to losing their last three home games. This is their longest skid at Nationwide Arena since losing five in a row there Nov. 10-20, 2006.
As 11th-place Columbus chased the top eight teams in the Western Conference, it can't afford to go into a prolonged slump at home. A loss to league-worst Los Angeles would be particularly humbling.
The Blue Jackets are returning home following a 2-1 overtime loss at San Jose on Friday night. A 2-1 win over Phoenix the previous night was Columbus' only victory in its last six games (1-3-2).
Blue Jackets winger Jason Chimera, who was given a four-year contract extension Wednesday, scored Columbus' only goal Friday. He has found the back of the net in each of his last three games, and is six goals shy of his career high of 17 set in 2005-06.
Chimera has two goals and an assist in three games against the Kings this season.
Los Angeles was playing well before a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon. The Kings, who are making the sixth stop on a season-high eight-game road trip, beat league-leading Detroit 5-3 on Thursday night and are 8-4-1 since a three-game losing streak.
The Kings also have had problems on the power play, going 0-for-5 versus the Penguins and 4-for-45 (8.9 percent) in their last 10 games.
Alexander Frolov, though, was able to continue his strong play Saturday, assisting on both of Los Angeles' goals. The veteran forward has two goals and seven points in his last three games, but has been held off the scoresheet in three straight contests against Columbus.
The Kings have a road record of 11-15-2, and their last 10 games is a record of 5-4-1.
The Blue Jackets have a home record of 16-8-5, and their last 10 games is a record of 3-5-2.
The Kings will finish their 8 game road trip on Tuesday night at Scottrade Center against the St. Louis Blues.
"After a great win against Detroit, then we have an afternoon game," Derek Armstrong said. "I can't speak for everyone, but I have to come out with a little more. It took me a while to get going and that's kind of unfortunate."
"He was the difference maker," Kings coach Marc Crawford said of Malkin. "He wanted to play well, he had his parents in the crowd. He wanted to put on a show, and he did."
Los Angeles Kings
Rob Blake (Left ankle fracture on 2/2/08) IR
Ladislav Nagy (Sore neck on 1/19/08) IR
Columbus Blue Jackets
Sergei Fedorov (Concussion on 1/19/08) IR
Pascal Leclaire (Left game - neck injury on 2/5/08) day-to-day
Fredrik Modin (Hamstring injury on 1/31/08) IR
Alexandre Picard (Torn knee ligaments on 9/15/07) IR
01/03/08 - Blue Jackets @ Kings 4-3 (Blue Jackets win)
12/21/07 - Kings @ Blue Jackets 2-1 (Blue Jackets win)
10/31/07 - Blue Jackets @ Kings 4-1 (Blue Jackets win)
Leading Scorers:
Forwards: Kopitar, LA - 51 points (22 G, 29 A, -13) | Zherdev, CBJ - 46 points (22G, 24 A, -7)
Defensemen: Visnovsky, LA - 30 points (6 G, 24 A, -20) | Hainsey, CBJ - 25 points (5 G, 20 A, +3)
Probable Starters: (subject to change)
Cloutier, LA - 0 GP Record: 0-0-0 GAA 0.00 SV% .000 | Norrena, CBJ - 26 GP Record: 7-12-5 GAA 2.62 SV% .901
Players you might want to keep an eye on:
Brian Boyle, LA - 4 points (3 G, 1 A, +2) | Rick Nash, CBJ - 45 points (28 G, 17 A, -4)
GAA:
LA – 3.25 (29th in NHL) CBJ – 2.46 (6th in NHL)
Avg. Goals: LA – 2.80 (11th in NHL)
CBJ – 2.40 (27th in NHL)
Power Play %: LA – 19.2 (6th in NHL)
CBJ – 15.8 (24th in NHL)
Penalty Kill %:
LA – 79.2 (26th in NHL) CBJ – 86.8 (2nd in NHL)
(As of 2/9/08)
Pacific Division Standings:
1. Dallas Stars (34-20-5) 73 pts
2. San Jose Sharks (31-17-7) 69 pts
3. Anaheim Ducks (30-22-7) 67 pts
4. Phoenix Coyotes (28-23-4) 60 pts
5. Los Angeles Kings (23-31-3) 49 pts
***GDT - Los Angeles Kings @ Columbus Blue Jackets - 2/10/08*** 
taz42
