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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 (24-31-3) 51 pts
@
St. Louis Blues (24-22-8) 56 pts
Game Time: 5:30 PM PST | 8:30 PM EST
Location: Scottrade Center | St.
While the Los Angeles Kings' current run likely won't be enough to spark a playoff push, the St. Louis Blues' sudden free fall may have ended any shot they had at contending for a postseason spot.
The Kings, concluding what has been a successful eight-game road trip, look to even their season series with the struggling Blues as the teams meet Tuesday night.
A five-game losing streak that started in September - and included a 5-3 loss to St. Louis (24-22-8) on Oct. 6 - was an early indicator that Los Angeles (24-31-3) likely was headed for another long season. Indeed, the Kings have struggled, posting a league-worst 51 points.
But Los Angeles is enjoying what is easily its best stretch of the season, earning 19 points in its last 14 games (9-4-1). That is the Kings' best 14-game run since going 10-3-1 from Dec. 16, 2005-Jan. 12, 2006.
Much of that success has been on the road. Los Angeles is 4-2-1 on its trip, which is only the sixth time in team history it has been on the road for a stretch spanning eight games or more.
At this point, a playoff berth isn't likely for the Kings, but they are just five points behind the 12th-place Blues in the Western Conference. Just a month ago, St. Louis was 22-14-5 and poised to end a two-year playoff drought, but it has gone 2-8-3 since.
St. Louis has lost four straight, dropping the first three in regulation before a 2-1 defeat to Minnesota in a shootout that lasted six rounds Sunday night.
The Blues have struggled even though All-Star goaltender Manny Legace has played in nine straight games. Legace is 1-4-2 with a 3.00 goals-against average in that span.
He was scheduled to get a day off on Saturday, when St. Louis lost 6-2 at Dallas, but relieved struggling backup Hannu Toivonen in the second period. Legace is 9-1-0 with one tie and a 2.62 GAA in 13 games versus the Kings.
Toivonen was assigned to Peoria of the AHL on Monday, and the Blues recalled Chris Beckford-Tseu to back up Legace.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, has a new backup goalie in Dan Cloutier, who was recalled on Feb. 7. He made his first start of the season Sunday night, finishing with 31 saves in the Kings' 3-2 shootout win over Columbus.
It was Cloutier's first win since beating Colorado 5-4 on Dec. 9, 2006. Cloutier, who has struggled with injuries and mostly played in the minors the last few seasons, will back up Jason LaBarbera.
Los Angeles has gotten clutch play in net during its road trip, allowing a combined two goals in the third period in its last seven games. The Kings also have scored 11 goals in those games in the third period.
All-Star center Anze Kopitar, who scored two goals in regulation Sunday, has eight goals and 15 points in his last 17 games. He assisted on all three goals in their October matchup with the Blues.
The Kings have a road record of 12-15-2, and their last 10 games is a record of 6-3-1.
The Blues have a home record of 15-10-5, and their last 10 games is a record of 2-6-2.
The Kings return home on Friday night at Staples Center against the Calgary Flames.
"I guess I turned and apparently I kicked it in," O'Sullivan said about the goal that was negated after a video review. "It doesn't matter now, we won the game anyway."
"I've waited a long time for this one," said Cloutier, who has struggled with injuries and mostly played in the minors the last few seasons with a hefty contract. "I've been through a lot in the last couple of years. I'm pretty excited to come back up and get an opportunity to play."
"We didn't make a great deal of mistakes tonight, but Cloutier was there for us when we did," Los Angeles coach Marc Crawford said.
"I don't think the goalie really knew where the puck was," Kopitar said. "It was a really nice break for us to score right off the bat. It was good to start the game with."
"This was a huge game tonight for Columbus, trying to get themselves back in the playoff picture," Crawford said. "We want to enjoy the challenge that comes with each game."
Los Angeles Kings
Rob Blake (Left ankle fracture on 2/2/08) IR
Ladislav Nagy (Sore neck on 1/19/08) IR
St. Louis Blues
Christian Backman (Cracked bone in left foot on 2/2/08) IR
Mike Johnson (Left shoulder surgery on 1/3/08) IR
Keith Tkachuk (Flu-like symptoms on 2/9/08) day-to-day
10/06/07 - Blues @ Kings 5-3 (Blues win)
Leading Scorers:
Forwards: Kopitar, LA - 53 points (24 G, 29 A, -12) | Kariya, STL - 48 points (14G, 34 A, -4)
Defensemen: Visnovsky, LA - 30 points (6 G, 24 A, -20) | E. Johnson, STL - 17 points (3 G, 14 A, +3)
Probable Starters: (subject to change)
LaBarbera, LA - 41 GP Record: 16-20-2 GAA 2.94 SV% .911 | Legace, STL - 43 GP Record: 19-15-5 GAA 2.33 SV% .910
Players you might want to keep an eye on:
Michael Cammalleri, LA - 32 points (15 G, 17 A, -8) | Brad Boyes, STL - 45 points (30 G, 15 A, +5)
GAA:
LA – 3.24 (29th in NHL) STL – 2.81 (19th in NHL)
Avg. Goals: LA – 2.78 (14th in NHL)
STL – 2.52 (25th in NHL)
Power Play %: LA – 19.0 (7th in NHL)
STL – 12.9 (30th in NHL)
Penalty Kill %:
LA – 78.4 (28th in NHL) STL – 83.1 (10th in NHL)
(As of 2/11/08)
Pacific Division Standings:
1. Dallas Stars (35-20-5) 75 pts
2. San Jose Sharks (31-17-7) 69 pts
3. Anaheim Ducks (31-22-7) 69 pts
4. Phoenix Coyotes (28-25-4) 60 pts
5. Los Angeles Kings (24-31-3) 51 pts
Thanks TC
I'm counting on Kings taking this one. Murray has the Blues looking tired. Sounds familiar to me. Problem is them having Legace in goal; we know how past Kings like to play hard against us.
Go Kings!!
The Blues have already begun the time-honored Andy Murray Annual Swan Dive. If the Kings play as they have in the previous wins on this road trip, they'll win this game.
***GDT - Los Angeles Kings @ St. Louis Blues - 2/12/08*** 
taz42
