Penalty killing has become increasingly important in the post-lockout, penalty-happy NHL, and the Kings' struggles in that area go a long way to explaining why they are the worst team in the league.
The Kings entered Tuesday night's game against San Jose with the fifth-worst penalty-kill percentage in the league, but the little-heralded acquisition of winger Matt Ellis seems to be making a difference.
Ellis, claimed off waivers from Detroit on Feb. 21, has been logging significant penalty-kill minutes, and since his arrival, the Kings have successfully killed 31 of 33 shorthanded situations.
"I didn't get the chance to kill penalties in Detroit," Ellis said, "but I got the chance in practice all the time and I had a decent amount of success in the American (Hockey) League."
Kings' newly arrived Ellis goes in for the kill (LA Daily News) 
