GDT: St. Louis @ Los Angeles - 11/8/08 - 7:30 PM

[johnjm22]

.


Los Angeles Kings
(4-6-2, 10 pts)

VS.



St. Louis Blues
(5-6-1, 11 pts)


7:30PM (PST) @ Staples Center Los Angeles, CA

TV Broadcast: PRIME HD (Home), KPLR (AWAY)
Radio Broadcast: KTLK 1150 AM, XM 206

GAME PREIVEW The St. Louis Blues' successful start to the season has become a faded memory. Looking to halt a four-game losing streak on Saturday, the Blues visit a Los Angeles Kings team that recently ended a lengthy slide of its own. St. Louis (5-6-1) opened 2008-09 by winning four of its first five games for the second straight season. Now, though, that promising start seems quite distant, as the team has since gone 1-5-1 and has dropped its last four games. The Blues appeared poised to stop their skid on Thursday with a one-goal lead heading into the two minutes of regulation at San Jose, but gave up a game-tying goal to Ryan Clowe before losing 5-4 in a shootout. "When we get that lead against a good team, we really need to clamp down and get those two points," right wing David Backes said. Rookie Ben Bishop made 39 saves through overtime, while Lee Stempniak had a goal and two assists for St. Louis, which is mired in its worst slide since losing six in a row (0-5-1) from March 5-15 and remains winless through two contests of its five-game road trip. An injury to left wing Paul Kariya hasn't helped matters. The Blues' leader with 13 assists and 15 points, Kariya exited Wednesday's loss in Anaheim with an undisclosed lower-body injury after apparently getting hit by a puck. His status remains uncertain for Saturday. However, Blues goaltender Manny Legace (hip flexor) might be ready to return for his first action in more than two weeks. Legace hasn't played since he was hurt prior to the Blues' 4-0 home loss to the Kings on Oct. 24, when he tripped on a carpet laid out for Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin to drop the ceremonial first puck. He played the first period before giving way to Bishop. Legace is 11-3-0 with a tie and a 2.78 goals-against average in 17 games against the Kings (4-6-2), who won Thursday for the first time since beating St. Louis. They defeated Florida 3-2 to end a five-game skid in which they had suffered four losses by one-goal margins. "(Some) of those losses were heartbreaking," rookie Drew Doughty, who had two assists Thursday, told the Kings' official Web site. "We lost them in the last minute, so it's definitely great to get this first win and that said hopefully we can keep rolling and get some more." Los Angeles killed off all five of its penalties, and has allowed opponents only six power-play goals in 55 chances (10.9 percent) this season. That penalty-killing unit will be tested by St. Louis, which has converted on 27.3 percent (15-for-55) of its power-play opportunities. The Kings, who are 1-4-0 on their season-high seven-game homestand, have lost 12 of their last 19 meetings with the Blues despite last month's victory.

INJURIES LOS ANGELES Marc-Andre Cliche (Separated shoulder on 10/06/08) IR Richard Clune (Chest injury on 10/06/08) IR Jack Johnson (Shoulder injury on 10/13/08) IR ST LOUIS Erik Johnson (Torn right ACL and MCL on 09/23/08) IR Paul Kariya (Lower body injury on 11/06/08) day-to-day D.J. King (Shoulder surgery on 10/18/08) IR Manny Legace (Hip flexor on 10/25/08) IR T.J. Oshie (High ankle sprain on 11/02/08) IR

RECENT MEETINGS 10/24/08 - Kings @ Blues 4-0 (Kings win) *Kings All-Time Record against St. Louis (60-86-23)

LEADING SCORERS Forwards Brown, LA - 8 points (4 G, 4 A, +1) Kariya, STL - 15 points (2 G, 13 A, +1) Defensemen Quincey, LA - 5 points (1 G, 4 A, +1) Jackman, STL - 4 points (2 G, 2 A, -3)

PROBABLE STARTERS Ersberg, LA - 4 GP Record: 1-1-1 GAA 1.61 SV% .911 Bishop, STL - 3 GP Record: 1-0-1 GAA 2.42 SV% .917

TEAM STATS GAA LA – 2.67 (13th in NHL) STL – 3.25 (T-21st in NHL) Avg. Goals LA – 2.50 (27th in NHL) STL – 3.00 (T-12th in NHL) Power Play % LA – 14.3 (28th in NHL) STL – 27.3 (2nd in NHL) Penalty Kill % LA – 88.9 (4th in NHL) STL – 84.6 (10th in NHL)

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

[JacobPFT]

Go Kings Go!!!!

[DIEHARD the King fan]

Another game with a team that on paper looks evenly matched. Key Stat: 2nd best PP (St.Louis) vs. 4th best PK (Kings). Need to stay out of the box. We also need to get our PP rolling, higher than the dismal 28thspot we now occupy.

Looking at the goalie matchup, I just love looking at The ICEBERG's 1.61 GAA, and hope his calmness centers/anchors our newfound defense work ethic. Another couple wins in a row for the ICEBERG and we shouldnt have any goalie contoversy any more. IN ERSBERG I TRUST

[riznat]

Rinkside view tonight. My excitement for the game just dropped a few levels.

[JDM]

Two words - **** TKACHUK

[Reaper45]

Originally Posted by JDM

Two words - **** TKACHUK

Tkachunk.

[Zad]

Originally Posted by Reaper45

Tkachunk.

Tkachoo

[wabwat]

Originally Posted by DIEHARD the King fan

Another game with a team that on paper looks evenly matched. Key Stat: 2nd best PP (St.Louis) vs. 4th best PK (Kings). Need to stay out of the box. We also need to get our PP rolling, higher than the dismal 28thspot we now occupy.

Looking at the goalie matchup, I just love looking at The ICEBERG's 1.61 GAA, and hope his calmness centers/anchors our newfound defense work ethic. Another couple wins in a row for the ICEBERG and we shouldnt have any goalie contoversy any more. IN ERSBERG I TRUST

looked strong against a contender and had a couple of shaky moments against a pretender en route to 3 out of a possible 4 points in consecutive starts... no need to rock the boat, eh?

he was a tad wonky in relief against a mid-phase team and now he has another crack against one as a starter... should be a great test for him.

[Zad]

Look forward to this game.

All anyone could hope for is a fair chance.

Tonight may be Ersberg's defining moment.

Let us hope he defines the moment...and doesn't get defined.

[Reaper45]

Originally Posted by Zad

Tkachoo

Tkachunk.

http://www.sportsargumentwiki.com/im...a/Tkachunk.jpg

[Reaper45]

And just because I thought it was funny.

http://www.sportsargumentwiki.com/im...Kylecalder.jpg

[rapots]

Originally Posted by riznat

Rinkside view tonight. My excitement for the game just dropped a few levels.

Mine too

[Zad]

Originally Posted by Reaper45

And just because I thought it was funny.

Those red x crack me up.

[Cabwaylingo]

Originally Posted by Reaper45

And just because I thought it was funny.

Drunk by 10 O'clock?

[Beauty, eh?]

Originally Posted by riznat

Rinkside view tonight. My excitement for the game just dropped a few levels.

Seriously. I can't stand it either.

I predict a 3-2 victory for the Kings.

[Reaper45]

Those red x's can eat a dick.

[ExplosionsintheGine]

I will gladly watch in rink-side view, only if the broadcast is in HD, which it is.

High Definition > Classic View

[wabwat]

Originally Posted by Reaper45

Those red x's can eat a dick.

that's why i think it can actually be funnier than the original intended image at times.

[johnjm22]

According to the Blue's official website, Legace is now expected to start tonight.

Considering how good Bishop had been playing, this might be a good thing.

[Slippery Moses]

5-4 LA in OT. Frolov will have 2 goals dissallowed and flub a breakaway. Mabye two, I can't be sure yet.

[Legionnaire]

Woo! Kopitar! 1-0 Kings.

[BurningBright]

Man he needed that!

[sueroe]

Good for Kopitar. Finally!

[Riddarn]

Here I was hoping to see Berglund and Möller.. and all I get is a headache. I sincerely hope that this camera view is nothing that other broadcasters will emulate. sigh..

[Slippery Moses]

lol Gauthier