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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 (21-30-3) 45 pts
@
New York Rangers (27-22-6) 60 pts
Game Time: 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Location: Madison Square Garden |
The New York Rangers clearly are a better team with Sean Avery in their lineup. The Los Angeles Kings haven't been any better without him in theirs.
Avery and the surging Rangers look to continue their climb up the Atlantic Division standings Tuesday night when they host the league-worst Kings.
Although Avery hasn't played a big offensive role in the Rangers' recent hot play, his ability to agitate the opposition has helped them win three straight and five of their last six games.
Avery will face his former team for the first time exactly one year to the day that New York (27-22-6) acquired him from the Kings (21-30-3) as part of a five-player deal. The Kings acquired checking forward Jason Ward - now with Tampa Bay - and forwards Marc-Andre Chliche and Jan Marek in that trade while the Rangers also picked up prospect John Seymour.
Avery had an immediate impact last season for the Rangers, tallying eight goals and 12 assists in 29 games. Limited to 30 games this season due to various injuries, Avery has four goals and 15 points.
The Rangers are 18-9-3 with Avery in their lineup and 9-13-3 when he is sidelined. That continues a trend from last season when New York finished the regular season on a 17-6-6 run after acquiring Avery.
Arguably the league's most disappointing team in the first half of this season, the Rangers have been better lately. They have gone 7-3-1 in their last 11 games to move within three points of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New Jersey for the lead in the Atlantic.
After outscoring Philadelphia and New Jersey 7-1 in road wins on consecutive nights, New York scored five unanswered goals Sunday in a 5-3 victory at Montreal.
The Kings still own the NHL's worst record, but have been a much-improved team lately. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games overall, and 5-2-1 in their last eight on the road.
After recording three points in their first two stops on an eight-game road trip, the Kings fell 6-3 at New Jersey on Saturday.
Brian Boyle scored in his NHL debut, and Jack Johnson and Lubomir Visnovsky also had goals for Los Angeles, which is 3-0-1 in its last four meetings with the Rangers.
This is the Kings' first visit to Madison Square Garden since a 6-2 victory on Oct. 25, 2002.
The Kings have a road record of 9-14-2, and their last 10 games is a record of 6-3-1.
The Rangers have a home record of 17-11-0, and their last 10 games is a record of 6-3-1.
The Kings will continue their road trip on Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena against the Detroit Red Wings.
"We had the work ethic we needed in the third period," coach Marc Crawford said. "We were a little too casual. You need attention to detail in your play all the time. We got it in the third period and made a little bit of a push but that was the type of intensity we needed from the first period on."
"It's pretty neat," Boyle said. "I'm still trying to take it in. It hasn't really hit me yet. It's nice to score, but you want to win, obviously."
Los Angeles Kings
Rob Blake (Left ankle fracture on 2/2/08) IR
Ladislav Nagy (Sore neck on 1/19/08) IR
Scott Thornton (Sore neck on 2/2/08) day-to-day
***Dustin Brown (Gone home to be with pregnant wife on 2/5/08) day-to-day***
New York Rangers
Marcel Hossa (Back injury on 1/29/08) IR
Marek Malik (Knee injury & facial cuts on 2/1/08) day-to-day
Forwards:
Kopitar, LA - 48 points (20 G, 28 A, -16) | Gomez, NYR - 52 points (12G, 40 A, +5)
Defensemen:
Visnovsky, LA - 30 points (6 G, 24 A, -18) | Rozsival, NYR - 30 points (13 G, 17 A, -2)
Probable Starters: (subject to change)
LaBarbera, LA - 38 GP Record: 14-19-2 GAA 2.93 SV% .910 | Lundqvist, NYR - 48 GP Record: 24-19-5 GAA 2.30 SV% .909
Players you might want to keep an eye on: (They were best friends in L.A.)
Alexander Frolov, LA - 39 points (12 G, 27 A, -11) | Sean Avery, NYR - 15 points (4 G, 11 A, +0)
GAA:
LA – 3.28 (29th in NHL) NYR – 2.40 (5th in NHL)
Avg. Goals: LA – 2.74 (15th in NHL)
NYR – 2.42 (27th in NHL)
Power Play %: LA – 19.2 (6th in NHL)
NYR – 16.6 (19th in NHL)
Penalty Kill %:
LA – 78.7 (28th in NHL) NYR – 82.6 (12th in NHL)
(As of 2/4/08)
Pacific Division Standings:
1. Dallas Stars (31-20-5) 67 pts
2. San Jose Sharks (29-16-7) 65 pts
3. Anaheim Ducks (27-22-7) 61 pts
4. Phoenix Coyotes (28-22-3) 59 pts
5. Los Angeles Kings (21-30-3) 45 pts
***GDT - Los Angeles Kings @ New York Rangers - 2/5/08*** 
C-DUB
