News Clips 12-2-17

News Clips

12-2-17

FROM LA KINGS INSIDER: were awesome to sign off on. I’ll share that with you at the appropriate time. December 2, 2017 Practice day! Will we see the whites of Torrey By: Jon Rosen Mitchell’s eyes? We’ll find out at the United Center Good Morning, Chicago at 1:00 p.m. local time. Enjoy your weekend, Insiders. It’s a beautiful morning in the Windy City. Good morning, Insiders, and good morning, Chicago. December 1, 2017 Not a bad schedule, this. Hastened by a 7:00 p.m. By: Jon Rosen local time start, we were out the doors (err, loading December 1 Postgame Notes dock) of the Scottrade Center at 10:20 yesterday and up in the air just before 11:00 p.m. We touched -With the win, Los Angeles improved to 76-99-26 down at Midway before 11:45, and after leaving the all-time against St. Louis, a record that includes a field, arrived at the team hotel with enough time to road mark of 28-62-12. Including playoffs, the spare for a nightcap. There were a few bloggers and Kings have won 21 of the last 31 meetings between media types congregating at the sleekly renovated the teams. Both teams are 1-1-0 in the head-to-head lobby downstairs. Not enough time to make a quick match-up with one remaining game at Staples run to Rush Street, but, hey, it’s a Saturday off- Center on March 10. night in Chicago, and the world is our oyster. The only time we visited last year was on the second -With the win, Los Angeles improved to 4-5-3 night of a back-to-back. ALL HAIL SCHEDULOR. versus the Western Conference, 1-2-1 versus the Central Division, 7-1 in three-goal games, 8-2-0 So! A little bit of personal and site news. I’ve taken when scoring first, 6-2-0 when leading after one on some additional broadcasting responsibilities period, 9-1-0 when leading after two periods, 7-5-1 outside of the organization, and the first assignment when outshot by their opponent and will be coming up next weekend. I’ve been given a broadcasting package to call some NCAA hockey -With the win, the Kings improced to 9-3-1 away by the Big Ten Network, and my first game will be from Staples Center. Their 19 road points are tied next Friday’s match-up between Notre Dame and for the most points through 13 road games in club Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison. This history (third time, also 1999-00 and 1980-81). The requires a sign off from the Kings, and they’ve been nine wins is also tied for the most road wins through incredibly kind to allow me this opportunity, the first 13 games in team history (second time, also because I’ll be missing some games here and there. 1980-81). In the immediate future, I won’t be present for Thursday’s game versus Ottawa and Friday’s -By outscoring St. Louis 1-0 in the third period, Los practice day. My return flight to L.A. is scheduled Angeles has now outscored their opponents 33-12 to land at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, so I’ll likely miss the in third periods this season. morning skate in advance of the Carolina game as well, but hopefully there will be a gate available for -The Kings scored the first goal of the game, ending us at LAX and I can rush back to TSC and cover the a six game streak in which they allowed the first end of that day’s media availability. There will be a goal. The last time they scored the first goal was in guest poster for the days I’m away, so the site won’t the 4-0 win over Florida on November 18. go Sports Center during a Y2K compliance test. More about this next week. -Los Angeles leads the NHL with a .931 save percentage. San Jose ranks second at .927. I’ll also have another broadcasting package to announce in a few weeks, which, again, the Kings

-Adrian Kempe finished with a +1 rating and leads have been playing at home, it’s really nice to get a all NHL rookies with a +13. Defenseman Robert win. Hagg of Philadelphis ranks second at +11. Toffoli, on the mindset coming in after losing to -The Kings attempted 42 shots (28 on goal, 9 the Blues earlier in the season: blocked, 5 missed). The Blues attempted 70 shots I think we all expected them to come out like they (40 on goal, 15 blocked, 15 missed). Vladimir did last time so we were ready for it. So all in all it Tarasenko finished with a game-high six shots on was just a really good effort by our team here. goal, while Drew Doughty, Alex Iafallo and Dustin Brown tied with a game-high four shots for L.A. Toffoli, on if there’s any significance to being atop the Western Conference right now: -Los Angeles won 25-of-58 faceoffs (43%). Adrian I mean, obviously it’s a cool feeling. But after the Kempe won 2-of-7, Anze Kopitar won 12-of-25, start we had, we know how quickly things can kind Jonny Brodzinski won 0-of-1, Nick Shore won 5-of- of slip away a little bit. I think we did a good job of 10, Trevor Lewis won 0-of-2, Dustin Brown won 1- finding our way to come back and win some games of-2, Nic Dowd won 1-of-3, Jussi Jokinen won 3- here and kind of get ourselves back on a roll. We’ve of-6 and Tanner Pearson won 1-of-2. just got to stay focused on doing those little things and just be consistent with our game. -Lead photo via Scott Rovak/NHLI Darcy Kuemper, on the team’s effort: Took the entire roster and it’s going to every time December 1, 2017 you play a good team like St. Louis, but we really By: Jessi McDonald brought it tonight and got rewarded with the result. December 1 Postgame Quotes: Toffoli, Kuemper Kuemper, on limiting both Washington and St. Tyler Toffoli, on winning both games on the Louis to a total of three goals: back-to-back: It just shows what kind of team game we play. The I think we just had a really good start. I mean, we commitment we got out of the roster from the first know how it feels when you kind of get in a hole guy to the last guy—everyone’s on the same page early games and we did a good job of not doing that and we’re playing for each other and it really shows and we were ready to play tonight. on the ice.

Toffoli, on whether the third period was one of Kuemper, on making the most of his the best they’ve had on the road: opportunities: Yeah, we were solid. We rolled lines, just did all of I was excited to get the challenge to play against a those little things right, and definitely contained team like St. Louis. You know, you don’t always them. Obviously they had some chances and Darcy get those opportunities so I was excited when I made some big saves, but I think it was just a really found out about it. And I think our whole team was good road win here. and really got up for it and wanted to prove something out there. Toffoli, on getting three goals in the last two games: Kuemper, on the first period: Yeah, well I wouldn’t really count last night as a I thought it was a pretty well-fought period. goal (laughing). But yeah, I guess they all count. Obviously getting out of there with the two-nothing Honestly, I just really kept my speed, good breakout lead is a great spot and we wanted to go out and win on the first goal and then on the other one Pears the second. Got out of there with a tie and got a made a really good play. I was low in front. So to be huge fourth goal in the third and we were able to able to get the two goals, it obviously feels good for shut it down from there. myself, but at the same time the way these guys

Kuemper, on how losing to the Blues earlier this playing time: season affected the pre-game mindset: We feel good about the schedule, the way it’s been Yeah, you could kind of tell when we got to the rink for Jonny. I mean, our goaltending’s been excellent it was on guys’ minds. Guys were talking about it. all year, and if you look at the schedule, I don’t You never want to lose to a team twice in a row and think Jonny’s been in a situation anywhere where we were really aware of that tonight and really he’s been overplayed. I thought that Washington came to play. game was a really hard game because we had a lot of zone time, and that’s really hard for a goalie with traffic, and we had pegged this game for Darcy. December 1, 2017 Darcy’s really done a good job of getting ready to By: Jon Rosen play when he’s called upon. He’s played on the December 1 Postgame Quotes: John Stevens front end of a back-to-back, he’s played on the back end of a back-to-back, and he’s done a really good On the win: job for us. I think Billy’s got a really good It was a good hockey game. It’s a back to back relationship with our goalies. I think they kind of against two really good teams that play hard and get a heads up when they’re going to in the net and play a heavy game. I thought the guys really dug in they do a really good job of getting dialed in and tonight. You got a great performance from your ready to play, and he was ready to play tonight. goaltender, and jeez, we had some real quality looks there and Ty had two big goals for us, but I thought On Darcy Kuemper not having a regulation loss we really kind of stayed with it and continued to get on December 1: better as the game went on. I thought we had a real I think it’s important – I think we’ve seen it in the solid third period, and again, I think in these past with what’s happened here before where you situations you need production from everybody, and get some big production from your back-up goalie. I thought we got good contributions from It was exactly what we were hoping for. You look everybody. at Darcy, he came here, and I think he was excited for the opportunity, and that’s a big responsibility On winning the first three games of a road trip: for a back-up. You’ve got to a lot of times go in on Well, we knew it was a really important trip coming trips and sometimes in tough spots. He went in in on. We didn’t do as well on the home stand as we Vegas for us mid-game and played terrific, so your would’ve liked to, and it was really important we goalie needs to be able to come off the bench and thought that we won that last game at home and help the team get righted, and your goalie needs to headed out on the road on a good note, and we did, come in when the schedule’s tough and you need a and that was a tough game, as well. So, you go back great performance, and he’s done all of that. to the Anaheim game, some really tough sledding for us, and I just think the guys have done a good On whether he was pleased by Adrian Kempe’s job of rest-recovery on days in between and making line’s performance against Brayden Schenn’s sure they’re ready to play on the days we play. It’s line: certainly nice to get a good start tonight, and I Yeah, we have full confidence in that group. Adrian thought the start of the hockey game was good for just continues to get better. I think we all love his us, but we knew this trip was going to be tough. speed in the middle of the ice, but he’s becoming a Detroit was playing really well, Washington’s been very responsible guy. I think the faceoffs are playing really well, St. Louis has played well all something we need to continue to work on and get year, and Chicago’s always a dangerous team, so it better at, but we like the line. We think it’s a real was an important trip for us, so obviously we’re responsible line. As long as he continues to improve excited to be on it with three wins here, and now in those areas, he’ll continue to get more we’ve got to just bear down for Chicago. responsibility.

On whether Darcy Kuemper’s strong On whether he’s happy with the team’s standing performances affect how he balances his goalies’ near the top of the conference on December 1:

Well, for sure. I mean, I think points early in th year Linesmen: #68 Scott Driscoll, #96 David Brisebois are really important. We just want to continue to try Fox Sports West, FOX Sports GO, FUBO TV, and get better as a team here. We’ve said this all KABC 790, I Heart Radio along. Things went well, and then things kind of slid a little bit, but I think the important thing is to LAK starters: G Darcy Kuemper, D Jake Muzzin, D put it back in neutral, look at the game, understand Drew Doughty, LW Alex Iafallo, C Anze Kopitar, what you did well and understand what you need to RW Dustin Brown improve on, and we have lots of both. LAK scratches: D Christian Folin. F Torrey Mitchell -Lead photo: Scott Rovak/NHLI STL starters: G Carter Hutton, D Joel Edmundson, D Alex Pietrangelo, LW Dmitrij Jaskin, C Paul December 1, 2017 Stastny, RW Alexander Steen By: Jon Rosen STL scratches: D Robert Bortuzzo, F Magnus Game 27: Los Angeles At St. Louis Paajarvi, F Sammy Blais

Los Angeles Kings 4, St. Louis Blues 1 -Lead photo via Dilip Vishwanat/NHLI Final

Radio Feed December 1, 2017 FUBO TV Stream By: Jon Rosen NHL.com Preview December 1 Pre-Game John Stevens Quotes; Box Score Mitchell To Meet Team In Chicago Ice Tracker On the Schwartz-Schenn-Tarasenko lines, and SOG: LAK – 28; STL – 40 attempts to neutralize it: PP: LAK – 0/4; STL – 1/5 Well, if you look at the line, it’s interesting. I ran into Brayden Schenn’s dad when we were in First Period Arizona. He was visiting Luke, and he said he had 1) LAK – Tyler Toffoli (12) (Nick Shore, Tanner never seen a group that had such chemistry right Pearson), 1:43 away, and I think that’s probably the key 2) LAK – Anze Kopitar (13) (Alex Iafallo, Jake ingredients of have on a line. They seem to mesh Muzzin), 6:12 very well. They’ve got a lot of speed and quickness, they’ve got a lot of power in their game, they’ve got Second Period some elite shooters and they play a really good team 3) STL PPG – Patrik Berglund (1) (Colton Parayko, game. If you add it up, I think they’re a plus-56 Vince Dunn), 15:17 combined as a line, and that might be the most 4) LAK – Adrian Kempe (9) (Alec Martinez, Drew dominant line in the league right now. They play a Doughty), 18:56 200-foot game. They’re a handful. They’re not just run-and-gun, just a one-dimensional line. They play Third Period a really good team game, they can check, there are 5) LAK – Tyler Toffoli (13) (Tanner Pearson), turnovers that create a lot of offense of them, so 10:54 whoever’s on the ice to get them, you’ve got to compete, and you’ve got to be ready to check them. Los Angeles Kings (15-8-3) at St. Louis Blues (17-7-1) On any parallels to the last meeting, such as the Friday, December 1, 2017, 5:00 p.m. PT standings, momentum, and strong road play: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO I’m not sure, to be honest with you. I haven’t really Referees: #30 Kendrick Nicholson, #6 Francis thought about it that way. But we’re just kind of Charron focusing on ourselves. When you play St. Louis, it’s

a team in the conference, they’ve been one of the They’ve got some defensemen I think who are some consistent teams in the league all year. One thing is really good thinkers with good mobility, and they’re healthier now than they were. They’ve got they’ve really activated that D. It’s almost like a Berglund back, they’ve got Bouwmeester back in power play look in the offensive zone five-on-five, their lineup, so for us, it’s just another road game and it’s really been effective for them. They really where in a back-to-back situation we want to make get a guy away from the puck, a lot of time it’s a sure we play a really smart game, we want to get off defensemen, and that creates some confusion on to a good start and we want to make sure that we’re coverage on that play, and I think last time when we getting contributions from everybody. were here they were at least a goal a game and they’re almost a goal a game now with 21 goals On what has evolved in the Kings’ game since from their defensemen. That’s been impressive, and the last meeting: it’s certainly a concern and something we have to I don’t think it’s got anything to do with St. Louis. I be aware of. think us, as a team, we’re always trying to get better. I thought we defended really well last night On whether Torrey Mitchell was available for in our own zone, just we were there too much. If tonight’s game: you took a look at our neutral zone and our O-zone He’d be available if he was here. He’d need a long forecheck, I don’t think it was as effective as it stick to help us tonight. He’s not coming here. He’s needed to be last night. When we got in our zone, going to meet us in Chicago. He had some the commitment to keep the puck out of our net was complications there with that, but we were trying to impressive, but I think we taxed ourselves a little bit get him in here. We weren’t going to play him, too much by being there a little too much, but good anyway. I just didn’t think it was fair to him. We’ve teams find a way to win in those games, and I think got healthy guys here, and he hasn’t skated in three our commitment in our own zone was excellent. days, so we’ll get him back on the ice tomorrow and get him going. On whether he’s expecting a different style of hockey tonight compared to the last two games: -Lead photo via Norm Hall/NHLI I’m not sure. Maybe Detroit’s a little different. They really have a speed-rush team coming at you, but I think Washington plays a really heavy game. Their December 1, 2017 skill guys play a heavy game, and I would say St. By: Jon Rosen Louis is the same way. They’ve got big defense, Martinez, Lewis Talk Gaborik The “Ferrari,” and their forwards, they play hard, they play Facing Dangerous Blues Attack physical, and they really count on their team game. I think Washington is similar in that sense, but I Good afternoon from Scottrade Center, where the probably see more similarities in Wash and St. Kings are set to complete the second half of their Louis than I did in the Detroit game. All good teams back-to-back set against the St. Louis Blues. all have lots of speed in the lineup, but I just think Washington and St. Louis play a really heavy game It’s the team’s second visit to St. Louis in just over that you’ve got to be ready for. I think the dot-to- a month, and in their last visit, the Blues’ reputation board part of the game, it’s a real important part of was an accurate harbinger of what was to come. The the game tonight. game-winner was scored by Carl Gunnarson – one of 21 goals scored by St. Louis defensemen this On why St. Louis’ defense is having so much season – after the Jaden Schwartz – Brayden success this season: Schenn – Vladimir Tarasenko trio combined for two They have. They’ve got a scheme where they’ve got quick-strike goals during a mid-second period this high umbrella in the offensive zone. Their stretch in which Los Angeles was pinned back in its forward ends up high in the middle of the ice. It’s own end. an interesting set-up, but it’s a tough read. It’s a good concept they’ve really gravitated towards.

“I think it’s much like that line last night,” Alec “He’s smart,” Lewis said. “And not only is he fast, Martinez said of the Schenn line, comparing it to he’s smart. He knows when to jump to holes. When the Nicklas Backstrom-Alex Ovechkin combination he jumps the hole, give him the puck and he’s that the team held in check in a 5-2 win over the usually going to do something good with it. I think Capitals. Naturally, checking in all three zones will his speed and his smarts help a lot.” be paramount if the Kings are to leave Scottrade Center with two points. Trevor Lewis, on the mindset when skating with Marian Gaborik and Adrian Kempe: “Our forecheck and our neutral zone forecheck They’re two really fast guys and two offensive really set us up for the D-zone, [last night], and I guys, so I try to get the speed up and get them pucks think that’s at least for me something that’s kind of and just kind of go to the net. So far it’s been been more evident this year, something that I’ve working out well. really come to discover about our team. I think that, in terms of the team game, it’s tough to score if they Lewis, on the transition from more of a run-and- can’t play in our end, so we’ve got to be good gun to more of a structured opponent: making quick plays and playing in the other end and Last night, it was a lot of a rush game and rush getting it into the forwards’ hands and letting them chances, and tonight it’s more of a forecheck, and do their job. But, obviously a line like [the Schenn like you said, a structured game. We’ve just got to line], they’re going to get zone time, so that’s where make sure that we’re on the right side of pucks your D-zone coverage has got to be spot on and when we’re checking, and obviously getting in on you’ve got to take away their time and space and the forecheck is going to be huge against the D to not allow them to make those plays.” slow them down a little bit.

In Washington, Los Angeles again received Lewis, on whether a game against Washington production from Marian Gaborik, who scored a first allowed for L.A. to play a more ideal, up-tempo period, game-tying goal and added an empty-netter game: in the third period to complete a two-goal, plus-two I think so. I think we try to play the same way every night. The team is 3-0-1 since his return. night. We’re trying to get pucks up quicker and have that speed so when we do chip the puck in we “The Ferrari’s back,” Trevor Lewis said. “He’s got can get in on the forecheck and get it back, and his legs back and he’s hungry. It’s been good to when we have that support like that, it’s a good see.” thing for us.

Gaborik provides an important dynamic in John Lewis, on facing a St. Louis team that has Stevens’ preferred advancement of the puck. Along received 21 goals from defensemen: with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, he’s one of They have three guys high a lot of the time. They the most efficient forwards on the team at entering have a guy up in the middle of the two D that kind the offensive zone with the puck instead of dumping of creates confusion for wingers and defensemen up it in, which allows for more dangerous options and there. I think we looked at some things today that’ll rush chances. help, but I think just bearing down and when we have chances to get pucks out and put bodies on “Obviously a guy like him, he’s been around for a them, it’s going to be a big key to our success. long time. He’s got a lot of skill, he’s got a lot of speed,” Martinez said. “Speed backs teams off, and Alec Martinez, on the dynamic of the Schwartz- as a D-man, I know that especially on D it backs us Schenn-Tarasenko line: off, so that’s a big asset that he brings to our club.” Well, you know, you’ve got Tarasenko, who’s one of the top offensive players in the league. He has There’s not only a speed element, but an offensive incredible skill, his shot. I think Schwartz has got awareness that allows Gaborik to find the softer the speed and he opens up a lot of space for those spots on the ice. other guys, and obviously Schenn’s a new addition

this year. For whatever reason, the three of them A funny thing happened en route to a 5-2 win over have formed chemistry and they’ve performed the Washington Capitals: the Los Angeles Kings really well, and they’re probably the top line, received important depth contributions. In a game production-wise, in the league, so we’ve got a big boasting star power of Anze Kopitar, Drew job to do to shut them down tonight. Doughty, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and a fascinating Evgeny Kuznetsov, it was Kurtis Martinez, on the biggest improvement since the MacDermid, Jonny Brodzinski and Jussi Jokinen team’s slump: who combined to turn nine seconds of the second I think probably those two things that I mentioned period into the most important stretch of the hockey earlier – our O-zone and our neutral zone play. If game. MacDermid, with his first career multi-point we do a good job, especially in neutral, we always performance, started all of this. Under pressure, talk about the back pressure, the back pressure Braden Holtby banked an ill-advised but still allows us D-men to step up and just kind of squeeze seemingly innocuous clear off the side boards that those guys out. You’re not always going to get stops would have cleared the zone had MacDermid not at the blue line, but if you can force a dump and get quickly skated to the left point to pick off the outlet. the puck back – and obviously the second part of MacDermid is a willing learner who has taken that is getting it out and making the plays – but I instruction extremely well but also relies upon his think our neutral zone is probably the biggest. own instinctively sound decision-making (in addition to some punishing physicality), and he Martinez, on pacing: knew exactly what do with the puck when stepping Right now, we’re just trying to be quick. Often in front of the clear. He immediately threw it times the way teams forecheck in neutral, we can directly towards the net, where Brodzinski, a natural thrive on being a transition team and capitalizing on goal scorer, hit an “X” in the low slot where he’d be those quick transitions, getting it in the forwards’ able to make something of a potential pass or shot hands before the other team has the opportunity to attempt. This connection happened faster than Matt set up. They always talk about us being quick and Niskanen and Dmitry Orlov were able to react to it, fast, and sometimes as a D-man, that’s your partner, and is another byproduct of an advantage the Kings but then sometimes it’s up to the forwards. may have over the Eastern Conference: with the unfamiliarity, opponents are not aware of the Martinez, on how St. Louis activates chemistry between the two Ontario Reign players defensemen: who logged heavy minutes together in the American I think on the back end, they’ve got 21 goals or Hockey League for the last two seasons but had something. They do a lot of exchanges – D-men combined for only 33 National Hockey League going down the wall or down the middle. They get games prior to last night. that three-high look a lot with two D and a forward. I think they’ve generated a lot of offense off that. Speaking of the depth scoring, the Kings may have Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t know if that’s themselves a third line. Marian Gaborik isn’t been a real big thing in their past. I can’t remember. exactly “depth scoring,” and lines are never static, But, yeah, that’s something that’s clearly worked but at the current juncture, following a multi-week really well for them, so that’s when, as I mentioned stretch in which the secondary scoring had largely before, where D-zone comes in. We’ve got to be evaporated, this Gaborik-Kempe-Lewis could able to sort and play quickly to shut that down. provide a viable option when other skilled forwards are off the ice. Trevor Lewis’ 41-point pace is a -Lead photo via Scott Rovak/NHLI large influence on this, but this line does provide a good speed option in which Gaborik’s traditional zone entry excellence can be a positive influence on December 1, 2017 their transition and neutral zone play. The By: Jon Rosen possession rates indicate that they haven’t been Waking Up With The Kings: December 1 playing in the offensive zone to a great degree – a small sample size may be spitting out some wonky

data – but in a lengthy stretch in which the team’s Time to head over to Casino Queen and place all center depth is tested, there aren’t a surplus of great my per diem on black. ::ball lands on red:: options. Nick Shore skating with Tanner Pearson Welp! That’s the end of me. and Tyler Toffoli isn’t necessarily ideal, but it’s practically necessitated by the lack of options and is Sadly, there won’t be any visits to Charlie yet to be exploited by disadvantageous match-ups. Gitto’s this year. A downtown institution – there are 14 in home games, Shore has three assists and a also location on The Hill, 15 minutes west of minus-eight rating, while in nine road games, he has downtown, as well as Chesterfield and Maryland two goals, three points and is a plus-three. Heights – the restaurant has been an integral part of Central Division travel with its homestyle Jussi Jokinen provided a Swiss Army knife-type midwestern Italian fare and wonderful hospitality, performance in the win. In his 11:55 of ice time, he and that’s the sentiment shared by lots of teams that saw at least a minute of five-on-five ice time with visit the Blues and Cardinals, not just the Kings. six different forwards and worked in the offensive There would be nights in which the broadcasters, zone to a degree greater than any other L.A. skater. bloggers and media would occupy one table, team He also caught Washington flat-footed immediately management would be seated at another, and then a after Brodzinski’s equalizer as he found ample small group or two of players were scattered around space behind Madison Bowey to receive a heads-up the back of the dining room. If you were to X-ray Lewis stretch pass and scored a big goal on a Jim Fox, you would find that 1.19% of his skeletal breakaway for his 14th career goal against the structure is actually the Charlie Gitto’s House Capitals. That’s notable both in how John Stevens’ Salad. game management allowed a player who began the night on the fourth line to play such a multifaceted But because we last had a night off in St. Louis on a role in the win, as well as excellent team execution Sunday, when the restaurant was closed, and by the players on the game-winner. All five skaters because this visit completes a back-to-back, there touched the puck in nine seconds, allowing a center- will be no Charlie Gitto trips until either the spring ice faceoff to evolve immediately into a quick- or next season. I feel like cartoonishly punching a strike. Shore won the draw towards Lewis, who hole through my top hat. Do us a favor: if you visit shoveled it to Alec Martinez. He exchanged it with St. Louis in the next year, pay Charlie a visit and MacDermid, who sent a hard pass back towards the tell him we miss him. center dot, where Lewis received it and quickly found a streaking Jokinen. That’s some solid, five- There won’t be any morning skate today, so we’ll man-unit work. learn tonight’s lines, pairings and starting goaltender during warm-ups. Enjoy your Friday, Insiders. There’s a WUWTK to come. December 1, 2017 By: Jon Rosen Good Morning, St. Louis FROM REIGN INSIDER:

Good morning, Insiders, and good morning… St. December 1, 2017 Louis? By: Joey Zakrzewski Postgame Video: Gulls Sneak Away From Reign We’re apparently back in St. Louis, one month and With Victory one day after having last visited the Big River. This was a shock to me, because in my sleepwalking Defenseman Kevin Gravel scored the game-tying daze last night, I stumbled towards a hotel room that goal with 25 seconds left in the third period, but the checked off none of the Bright Lights/Big City, San Diego Gulls snatched the victory away from the Metal Grommet Apocalypse or Ventilation Ontario Reign with the game-winning marker with Vibration boxes. There’s actually a view of the arch from the fifth floor! I’ve never been this lucky.

two seconds standing in a 3-2 decision at Citizens 2-1 SD with 2:21 left. Business Bank Arena Friday night. – Petersen pulled. 90 seconds left. 2-1 SD – ONT calls time out. Ozone face off with 1:22 left. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the – SD hooks up Amadio on the attack. 6on4 for ONT Reign and a three-game losing streak for the Gulls. with 30 seconds left – ONT Goal: Gravel sends crowd into frenzy with PPG. Tie 2-2. December 1, 2017 – SD Goal: Oh boy. SD’s Fiore scores with 2.8 By: Joey Zakrzewski seconds left. 3-2 win for SD Live Blog: Reign Vs. Gulls 12/1/17 2nd Period: Ontario Reign 2 (8-7-0-1) vs. San Diego Gulls 3 (7- – Puck is down for the 2nd period. 0-0 contest 10-1-0) between ONT and SD. Game #17 – Good 1st shift for SD. Bouncing pucks in on Friday, December 1, 2017, 7 p.m. PT Petersen. Citizens Business Bank Arena – ONT Goal: Falkovsky’s shot goes off the glove Referees: Terry Koharski, Chris Pontes of Berra from a distance and trickles into the Linesmen: Michael McBain, James Parker net. Berra wants it back. 1-0 ONT early in the Box Score 2nd period. SD Goal: Scott Sabourin sneaks around the ONT 3rd Period: defense and places shot over glove of Petersen – 3rd period is underway at @CBBankArena and from right circle. 1-1 with 14:42 left in 2nd ONT FW Jamie Devane takes a penalty. SD to the period. PP for 3rd time. 1-1 contest early – Penalties handed out for both sides. ONT-Imama – SD Goal: Fiore completes a 3on2 rush into the and SD-Jordan Samuels-Thomas grab zone. Power play marker. 18:34 left in 3rd. 2-1 unsportsmanlike conducts. 13+ left in 2nd period. SD 1-1 game. – SD Penalty: Ryan White called for a slash to put – ONT creates pair of odd-man rushes, but come ONT their 3rd PP. 14:24 left in 3rd period. away empty handed. Devane and Auger led their – PP quietly comes to a close for ONT. Trail 2-1 to lines, but passes in skates & swatted away. 1-1 with SD with 11:59 left in 3rd period. PP quietly comes 8:39 left in 2nd period. to a close for ONT. Trail 2-1 to SD with 11:59 left – Strong offensive continue to build up for ONT. in 3rd period. Doubling SD in shots 12-6 so far in 2nd period. 1-1 – ONT Penalty: Keegan Iverson a little TOOOO with 8:02 left. aggressive after the whistle. Crosschecking at 8:05. – SD Penalty: Fiore flagged for elbowing at 11:58. SD 1/2 on PP tonight. Lead 2-1. 1st PP for ONT tonight. – Hensick steals the puck and goes 1on1 with Berra. – ONT worked extensively on PP during practice Denied by right pad. Best chance for ONT so far. this week. Just 1 home PP goal this season. 7 total Trail 2-1 with 9:10 left in 3rd period. on the year (last in AHL) – ONT gets caught in the O zone. SD flips puck to – ONT firing from points into plenty of traffic, but center to find Carrick on breakaway. Gravel hustles all looks blocked/sent wide. PP comes to a close. 1- back, dives, knocks goal off as Carrick gets shot. 1 with 6:03 left in 2nd period. Goal or no? Officials review. 8:28 left in 3rd. – ONT controlling the pace. Now 17 shots on goal, – Officials chat and say no goal. SD challenges and but Berra coming up with timely saves. 1-1 with officials still say no goal. Stays 2-1 SD. 1:40 left in 2nd period. – ONT Penalty: Lintunniemi holds up Fehr on a – 2nd period comes to a close. Falkovsky collects potential breakaway. 4:30 left in regulation. ONT for ONT. Sabourin for . 1-1 contest at CBBA. down 2-1. – SD power play comes to a close. Herr nearly 1st Period: knocks puck into own/ONT net with crossing pass. – ONT Penalty: Lintuniemi takes an interference

call early in the contest. SD boasts best PP in AHL (two goals, one assist) and Michael Mersch (one at 24% goal, two assists) are tied for the series lead with – Good puck movement by SD on this opening. three points. Petersen holds tight on distant shot by Welinski. 16:32 left in 1st. 0-0 December 1, 2017 – Jonathan Racine draws into the lineup for the first By: Joey Zakrzewski time this season for @ontarioreign and drops the Scoop With Stutts: “Do Not Get Comfortable” gloves with SD’s Ryan White. 0-0 with 13:50 to go As Reign Host Gulls Tonight in 1st. – Racine claims 5 for fight and 2 for boarding. The Ontario Reign are picking up momentum as Instigating, Misconduct and Fight for White. they enter tonight’s contest (7:00) against the San – SD continues to control play. Hold 5-0 shot lead Diego Gulls on a four-game winning streak and and hold the puck possession lead. have points in nine of their last 10 contests. – 9:34 left in 1st and ONT still in search of 1st shot on goal. 0-0 score. So far in the SoCal Series, the Reign hold a 2-0-1 – Good traffic in front of Petersen. Giovanni Fiore record with tonight being the fourth of 12 with a look between the circles. Clips right pad and gatherings between the two rivals. Despite the stays pinned under. 0-0 with 8:21 left in 1st recent success, Reign Head Coach Mike – Open hockey in the second half of the first period. Stothers has stressed to his club to not get ONT establishing offensive presence. Dumping and comfortable or complacent. San Diego enters retrieving pucks. 0-0 with 5:17 left in 1st period. tonight’s match up on a three-game losing streak – Shots improve to 7-4 for SD. Icing ONT. ONT and have had severe roster turnover due to call-ups pushing back from sluggish start. 3:17 left in 1st to Anaheim and injuries. period. 0-0 – 1st period comes to a close. 0-0. SD starts strong, One weapon that has been consistent for the Gulls held ONT shotless for 10+ min. ONT pushes back. has been their power play. Operating at 24 percent, Grab 7 shots. Shots 8-7 SD the Gulls lead the AHL, converting on 23 of 96 opportunities. Pregame: – ONT Starters: Petersen, Lintuniemi, Iverson, NOTE: Cal Petersen was the first goalie off the ice Crescenzi, Devane, Falkovsky for the Reign. Also, as noted by Stothers earlier this – SD Starters: Berra, Welinski, Dostie, Fehr, week, defenseman Matt Roy will be a scratch due Megna, White to injury and will not make the upcoming road trip.

– The Reign enter tonight’s contest on a four-game After tonight, the Reign take a 13-day, five-game winning streak and have standings points in nine of road trip through Arizona and Texas before their last 10 contests (8-1-0-1). returning to Citizens Business Bank Arena. – Forward Andrew Crescenzi rides a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists) heading into tonight’s contest. – During the win streak, the Reign have only . allowed three goals against and scored 13. Over the last 10 games, the Reign have allowed 12 goals against. – The Reign currently lead the SoCal Series with a 2-0-0-1 record. Reign forwards Andrew Crescenzi

FROM LATIMES.COM

December 1, 2017 By: Curtis Zupke Tyler Toffoli strikes twice as Kings top Blues for fourth straight win Darcy Kuemper got the feeling that this was more than an early December game when he and his teammates showed up for their rematch with the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues beat the Kings at their own game a month ago here, in a hyped contest between premier Western Conference teams, and that lingered into Friday.

“You could tell when we got to the rink, it was on guys’ minds, guys were talking about it,” Kuemper said. “You never want to lose to a team twice in a row, and we were really aware of that tonight.”

For the second straight night, the Kings limited an imposing team with a potent top line, on the road, with quality goaltending. Their 4-1 win at Scottrade Center avenged their Oct. 30 loss, thus the tune “Takin’ Care of Business” blared through the speakers in their locker room.

Toffoli and Kopitar gave him support early. In the first two minutes into the game, Toffoli took a backhand pass from Nick Shore, sped down left wing and got Blues goalie Carter Hutton to open up his pads to slip the puck underneath him. Kopitar made the score 2-0 when he whacked in a rebound left by Hutton on Alex Iafallo’s shot.

Toffoli’s second goal at 10:54 of the third period made some of the 18,322 fans exit into the brisk fall air. Kempe’s goal to make it 3-1 already took the air out of the building as he wristed the puck between Joel Edmundson’s legs from above the right circle.

“That’s a hard shot for the goalies, and sometimes it works out,” Kempe said.

Kempe and linemates Marian Gaborik and Trevor Lewis were matched up against the Schenn line and held them scoreless. Schenn, chosen by the Kings fifth in the 2009 draft, scored 19 points in 12 games in November. The Blues were fifth in the NHL in scoring, so to shut them down was a message, one night after a win against the Washington Capitals.

“I think that’s huge,” Kempe said. “We knew coming in here, it was going to be a tough game. After last time we were here, we really wanted bounce back and get a win here. I think everybody was very excited before the game. I think we did a solid job.”

Etc.

Torrey Mitchell obtained his work visa and is expected to join the Kings in Chicago, a team official said. … General manager Rob Blake will be a 2018 inductee into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame.

FROM NHL.COM

December 1, 2017 Blake, Chelios, Alfredsson, Lehtinen elected to IIHF Hall of Fame Longtime NHL stars also enjoyed international success

Rob Blake, Chris Chelios, Daniel Alfredsson and Jere Lehtinen are among eight people voted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame for 2018. The induction ceremony will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the final weekend of the 2018 IIHF World Championship, which is scheduled for May 4-20. Blake, the general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, played 20 seasons in the NHL with the Kings, Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks. He helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2001, won the Norris Trophy in 1998 and was a finalist for the award four times. Blake was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014. Internationally, he helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, which earned him membership in the Triple Gold Club. He had won the gold medal with Canada at the 1994 IIHF World Championship. Chelios is sixth all-time in NHL games played with 1,651, in 26 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Atlanta Thrashers. He won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1986, and with the Red Wings in 2002 and 2008, and won the Norris Trophy three times (1989, 1993, 1996). Chelios played for the United States in the Winter Olympics four times, and was the captain in 1998, 2002 and 2006. He helped the U.S. win the silver medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and was the tournament's best defenseman. Chelios also won a gold medal with the U.S. at the 1996 World Cup Alfredsson played 17 of his 18 NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators. His 444 goals and 1,157 points are second among Sweden-born NHL players to Mats Sundin (564 goals, 1,349 points). He helped the Senators reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, played in the All-Star Game six times, and won the King Clancy Trophy in 2012 and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2013. Internationally, Alfredsson played in the Olympics for Sweden five times, winning a gold medal in 2006 and a silver medal in 2014. He also helped Sweden win the silver medal at the World Championship in 1995 and 2004, and the bronze medal in 1999 and 2001. Lehtinen spent his 14-season NHL career with the Dallas Stars, finishing with 514 points (243 goals, 271 assists) in 875 games. He helped the Stars win the Stanley Cup in 1999 and return to the Final in 2000. Lehtinen also won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward three times, and was a finalist six times. He's one of five players (Patrice Bergeron, Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, Pavel Datsyuk) to win the Selke at least three times. The Stars retired his No. 26 on Nov. 24. He won a silver medal with Finland at the 2006 Torino Olympics, as well as a bronze medal in 1994, 1998 and 2010. Lehtinen also helped Finland win the gold medal at the 1995 World Championship, and the silver medal in 1992, 1994 and 2007. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.

Also entering the IIHF Hall of Fame are France national team member and executive Philippe Lacarriere; former referee Bob Nadin; Jesper Damgaard, who played in 17 consecutive World Championships with Denmark and is the winner of the Torriani Award, given to players outside the top hockey nations; and Kirovs Lipmans of Latvia, the winner of the Paul Loicq Award for outstanding service to hockey.

December 1, 2017 By: Louie Korac Kuemper, Kings conquer Blues Makes 39 saves; Los Angeles wins fourth in row

ST. LOUIS -- Darcy Kuemper made 39 saves, Tyler Toffoli scored twice, and the Los Angeles Kings extended their winning streak to four with a 4-1 win against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center on Friday. Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings (16-8-3), who are 4-0-1 in the past five games after a 1- 6-1 stretch. Los Angeles defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Thursday. Toffoli and Kopitar each scored in the first 6:12 of the first period for a 2-0 lead. "I think we just had a really good start and we know how it feels when you kind of get into a hole early in games," Toffoli said. "And we did a good job of doing that and we were ready to play tonight." Kuemper has not lost in regulation this season (4-0-2). "I was excited to get the opportunity to play against St. Louis," Kuemper said. "You don't always get those opportunities so I was excited when I found about it and I think our whole team was and really got up for it and wanted to prove something out there." Patrik Berglund scored for the Blues (17-8-1), who have lost two in a row. St. Louis ended a five-game homestand 2-3-0. "This is, I would say, the first time this year ... we've lost a couple games in a row before, but this is the first time I would say where we weren't right," Blues coach Mike Yeo said. "We weren't right to start the game and certainly we didn't find it along the way." Carter Hutton made 18 saves on 21 shots for the Blues through two periods before being replaced by Jake Allen, who stopped six of seven shots. "Obviously down 2-0 right away there quickly. It's obviously a tough start when you get in a hole like that," Hutton said. "… Obviously the third one's a bad one and that ended my night." Despite being outshot 20-11 in the first period, the Kings took a 2-0 lead. Toffoli scored at 1:43 to make it 1-0, skating past defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and cutting in on Hutton before tucking a shot between the goalie's pads. Kopitar made it 2-0 at 6:12 with a rebound goal in front of defenseman Alex Pietrangelo after Hutton turned away Alex Iafallo's shot from the right circle. Berglund scored a power-play goal at 15:17 of the second period on a high-slot redirection to cut the lead to 2- 1. Kempe scored at 4-on-4 using Joel Edmundson as a screen to make it 3-1 at 18:56.

Toffoli's second came after Blues defenseman Vince Dunn lost the puck in his zone, Tanner Pearsoncentered, and Toffoli redirected a shot past Allen at 10:54 of the third period to make it 4-1. Goal of the game Toffoli's goal at 1:43 of the first period. Save of the game Kuemper's breakaway save on Vladimir Tarasenko at 7:30 of the second period. Highlight of the game Kempe's goal at 18:56 of the second period. They said it "It was a good hockey game. It was back-to-back against two really good teams that play hard and play heavy games. I thought the guys really dug in tonight. Got a great performance from your goaltender and we had some real quality looks. We continued to get better as the game wore on. I thought we got good contributions from everybody." -- Kings coach John Stevens

"I thought tonight we were pretty easy to play against. Especially in our building, we should be playing the body, making it tough on them to exit their zone, but they were breaking out the puck way too easy tonight. That's the result we're going to get. We've got to spend more time in their zone." -- Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson

"You could tell when we got to the rink it was on guys' minds. Guys were talking about it. You never want to lose to a team twice in a row and we were really aware of that tonight and we really came to play." -- Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper on losing 4-2 to St. Louis on Oct. 30

Need to know Kings center Torrey Mitchell, acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 23, had his immigration status resolved on Friday and he will join the team in Chicago and practice Saturday. ... Toffoli has three goals in the past two games. ... After 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) during a NHL-high eight-game point streak, Blues center Brayden Schenn has gone four straight games without a point.

What's next Kings: At the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSCH, FS-W, NHL.TV) Blues: At the Minnesota Wild on Saturday (6 p.m. ET; FS-N, FS-MW, NHL.TV)

FROM SPORTSNET.COM

December 1, 2017 By: AP Toffoli scores twice, Kings match Blues for best in West

ST. LOUIS — As much as Tyler Toffoli downplayed his recent performance, he’s more than happy to be contributing to the streaking Los Angeles Kings.

Toffoli scored twice, backup goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 39 saves and the Kings beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1 on Friday night.

"Honestly, I just kept my speed good on the first goal," Toffoli said, "And the other one, (Tanner Pearson) made a good play and I was alone in front. So, to be able to get the two goals, it obviously feels good for myself."

Toffoli has three goals in the past two games — one an empty-netter — and three two-goal games this year. He has 13 goals total this season.

Los Angeles won its fourth straight, including three in a row on the road. The Kings tied the Blues for the second-best record in the Western Conference with 35 points, one behind Winnipeg.

"Yeah, obviously it’s a cool feeling, but after the start we had we know how quickly things can slip away a little bit," Toffoli said. "We’ve just got to stay focused and do the little things and just kind of be consistent with our game."

The Kings won 11 of their first 15 games, then lost seven of eight before their current winning streak.

The Blues have lost three of four, getting outscored 7-3. They completed their homestand 2-3.

Kuemper, who gets limited action behind star Jonathan Quick, is now 4-0-2.

"I was excited to get the opportunity to play against St. Louis," Kuemper said. "You don’t always get those opportunities, so I was excited when I found out about it, and I think our whole team was and really got up for it and wanted to prove something out there.

Adrian Kempe got his ninth goal of the year while the teams were skating 4-on-4 late in the second period to give the Kings a 3-1 lead. He has two goals and an assist in his last three games.

Patrik Berglund scored his first goal since April 6 against Florida. He missed the first 24 games this season while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. He returned Wednesday night.

"They played a better team game tonight and we just weren’t connecting," Berglund said.

The Kings got an early jump on the Blues with two goals in just over six minutes into the opening period. Toffoli opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game and Anze Kopitar scored his 13th less than five minutes later. Kopitar has three goals and four points in his past three games.

"Down 2-0 there really quickly, that’s obviously a tough start," Blues goaltender Carter Hutton said. "That’s kind of the game."

NOTES: The Kings are 12-0-2 when scoring three or more goals this season. … Los Angeles had what would have been its third goal waved off about seven minutes into the second period. Drew Doughty was ruled to have interfered with Hutton, negating Dustin Brown’s goal. …The Blues pulled Hutton prior to the third period. He allowed three goals on 21 shots. Jake Allen, the usual starter, took over. … The Blues wore light purple warmup

sweaters with sparkly lettering in honour of Hockey Fights Cancer night. The lettering was a nod to Arianna Dougan, the 11-year-old girl who Vladimir Tarasenko befriended last season and who spent time with the team on a road trip while fighting cancer. She passed away on Nov. 11. Her family took part in the ceremonial puck drop.

UP NEXT

Blues: Travel to Minnesota on Saturday night.

Kings: Conclude four-game trip Sunday night at Chicago.

FROM YAHOOSPORTS.COM

December 1, 2017 By: Justin Cuthbert (Puck Daddy) Where the Kings, Senators stand when Karlsson and Doughty need new deals

Hey, if this hockey thing ever doesn’t work out for Drew Doughty, he might have a bright future with the Players’ Association.

Being his candid, ever-campaigning self in a chat with Craig Custance of The Athletic this week, the Los Angeles Kings star — who helps lead an incredible class of defensemen scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2019 — admitted that he’s already orchestrating a plan to maximize his earnings on his next contract.

In this very detailed, very direct discussion with Custance, Doughty revealed that he plans to rope perhaps the only defenseman currently with more leverage in future negotiations (and his closest competition for the Norris Trophy over the last several seasons), Erik Karlsson, into those discussions to establish another benchmark beyond the one he’s currently focusing on when visualizing his next deal: P.K. Subban’s.

Naturally, Doughty’s transparency was noted in New York, where the Ottawa Senators have landed on their current road trip, and his hard-line approach to free agency has been echoed — enhanced, even — by Karlsson, a man seeing dollar signs already himself.

“When I go to market, I’m going to get what I’m worth, and it’s going to be no less, no matter where I’m going,” Karlsson said, unequivocally, to the Ottawa Sun on Thursday.

He added: “I think it’s time to realize that when we go to the table, it’s business on both parts, not just (owners).”

Both Doughty and Karlsson — and Oliver Ekman Larsson and Ryan McDonagh, for that matter — are still under contract for another season and two-thirds, but the seismic stress their next contract will put on their current franchises has already been applied.

Each insinuating that Subban’s positional-high $9 million is a slight, and that a hometown discount is a pipe dream for executives and fans alike in their current market, keeping Doughty or Karlsson could require masterful finessing or treacherous concession.

Here’s a look ahead at where Los Angeles and Ottawa stand in two summers time:

Doughty

Los Angeles has a number of bad, Dean-Lombardi-legacy contracts on the payroll that has prevented the franchise from maximizing the talent on its roster over the past several seasons.

And while each will have inched closer to concluding term, each of these contracts — namely Dustin Brown’s and Marion Gaborik’s — will exist as considerable obstacles to awarding Doughty the raise he’s earned on his current $7 million annual salary.

There will be more than $48 million tied up in nine players — their top six forwards, top two defensemen (aside from Doughty) and netminder Jonathan Quick — by the time Doughty requires a new contract. Under the parameters of a salary cap that should be closer to $80 million by that time, the Kings would have about $30 million to house a new Doughty deal that will presumably exceed Anze Kopitar’s $10 million salary, along with the contracts of 13 others players.

It would be enormously limiting, but under these circumstances the Kings could keep Doughty, with an extra $4-5 million on his contract, in the fold. But will he be satisfied enough with the landscape, knowing the Kings have an aging core and a glut of contract that may prevent them from absolving themselves from the malaise they’ve been trapped in?

Karlsson

There are whispers of ownership issues in Ottawa, and, while not a budget team, this is a franchise without a bottomless pit of money, meaning it must always be mindful of its finances. And the expectation should be that Karlsson will command more than Doughty on the open market, adding to the tricky nature of negotiations with the star rover. But from a strict hockey operations perspective, the Senators have less obstacles than the Kings do in retaining their No. 1 defender.

Seven other contracts will expire — including $11 million between Matt Ducheneand Derick Brassard — in concert with Karlsson’s. And while the albatross contracts that belong to Bobby Ryan and Dion Phaneuf will still exist on the Ottawa payroll, beyond that it’s Mike Hoffman’s deal and just a handful more of little consequence.

A restricted free agent this summer, Mark Stone will sign a fairly lucrative contract with the Senators before Karlsson’s current $6.5-million annual salary expires, but that shouldn’t obstruct Karlsson from being able to maximize his earning potential in Ottawa.

That is, assuming the Senators will allow it.

FROM STLTODAY.COM

December 1, 2017 By: Tom Timmermann Blues close homestand with 4-1 loss to Kings

The Blues' five-game homestand ended with a fizzle as the team lost 4-1 to the Kings on Friday night at Scottrade Center. The Blues dropped three of the five game on the homestand and now head to Minnesota for a game with the Wild on Saturday night.

Patrik Berglund had the only goal for the Blues, who had 40 shots on goal but only a few good scoring chances as once again the pucks went almost directly at Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper.

Carter Hutton started for the Blues and was replaced after two periods by Jake Allen. Hutton gave up three goals on 21 shots as he lost for the second straight time.

Berglund's goal got the Blues to within 2-1 late in the second period, but Adrian Kempe scored from outside with 1:04 to go in the second and then Tyler Toffoli put it away with his second goal of the night as Vince Dunn couldn't get his stick on a puck in his end after he and Colton Parayko bumped into each other.

The Blues went 1 for 5 on the power play, and two of the power plays they ended themselves by being called for penalties, though one of them, on Alexander Steen, was an iffy call.

SECOND PERIOD UPDATE

Patrik Berglund got his first goal of the season to cut the Los Angeles lead in half, but the Kings answered with a late goal and lead 3-1 after two periods on Friday night at Scottrade Center.

Berglund, who missed the first 24 games of the season with a dislocated shoulder, stuck out his stick and redirected a shot by Colton Parayko on the power play to make the score 2-1. Vince Dunn also had an assist on the play.

Late in the period, with the teams playing four-on-four, Adrian Kempe skated into the Blues' zone and from the top of the right circle beat Carter Hutton to the top far corner.

Shots on goal were even at 10 apiece in the period.

The Kings looked to have scored a goal on a power play early in the period, but the officials ruled that Drew Doughty had interfered with Hutton in goal and waved it off.

The Blues had a couple good chances, including Brayden Schenn putting a rebound way wide from real close.

FIRST PERIOD UPDATE

The Blues, once again, were slow getting to their game and fell behind the Kings 2-0 on Friday night at Scottrade Center.

The Kings scored twice in the first 7:12 of the game and even though the Blues had 20 shots on goal, the best chances belonged to the Kings. Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper wasn't severely tested.

Tyler Toffoli scored first for the Kings, getting behind the Blues defense and taking the puck from his backhand to his forehand and sliding it under goalie Carter Hutton's pads less than 2 minutes into the game.

Anze Kopitar scored the second goal for the Kings, putting in a rebound of a shot by Alex Iafallo.

The Blues had a power play but didn't score.

BLUES SCRAMBLE LINEUP

Not surprisingly, coming off an unspectacular loss on Wednesday to Anaheim, there will be some changes in the lineup for the Blues for their Friday night game against the Kings.

Carl Gunnarsson is back in the lineup after four straight healthy scratches and Robert Bortuzzo comes out for the first time this season. Jay Bouwmeester will play on the right side, rather than the usual left, alongside Vince Dunn.

Up front, Oskar Sundqvist is back in and Sammy Blais is out, and the second and third lines have been rearranged, with Dmitrij Jaskin moving up to skate with Paul Stastny and Alexander Steen and the third line now seeing Patrik Berglund on the wing, Sundqvist in the middle and Vladimir Sobotka on the right. (See below for the full configuration.)

Coach Mike Yeo said this is how it's going to be in December.

“There's a lot of guys that are going to be getting chances,” he said. “We've got a lot of games coming up in this next little stretch. We could win 10 games in a row and we're going to be switching players in and out. That's the way it's going to be because we have to keep everybody involved and I think that competition for our group is going to be good. If you come to the rink and you just know you're going to be in the lineup the next day regardless of what you don on that particular night, that's a different mindset than you know hou have to be on top of your game to know you're coming in and staying in. We've got a lot of good players that we have confidence in. If a guy comes out, it's not necessarily because of them and the job they're doing. Quite often those decisions are also on something else.”

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Yeo said the move with Bouwmeester was because he's the left side defenseman who has the most experience playing on the right and they didn't want to move Gunnarsson away from his regular side in his first game back after sitting out.

Yeo has liked Jaskin's play of late and the idea is that his physical play in retrieving pucks will be good alongside Stastny and Steen. Berglund is going to the wing because Sundqvist doesn't have much experience

there and they wanted to get him back in, though Yeo said that will be a fluid situation and Berglund will be at center at times.

“I like him at center,” Yeo said, “but Sunny doesn't have a lot of experience on the wing. Talking with Bergie and Sunny, in the NHL today, there's not as much positional play, there's too many shifts where your first tracker back in the offensive zone is a winger, he's going to play center in that situation and the center is going to have to read off him and play wing. In the offensive zone, there's really just F1, F2, F3, whatever the case is. You're really starting your positions at center, after that it's a read-off-each-other hockey game and those guys have the ability to do that. I think you'll see tonight faceoffs on the strong side, Bergie will take those, he'll play center, on the right side, we'll switch.”

LINES

BLUES

Forwards

Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Vladimir Tarasenko

Dmitrij Jaskin-Paul Stastny-Alexander Steen

Patrik Berglund-Oskar Sundqvist-Vladimir Sobotka

Scottie Upshall-Kyle Brodziak-Chris Thorburn

Defensemen

Joel Edmundson-Alex Pietrangelo

Carl Gunnarsson-Colton Parayko

Vince Dunn-Jay Bouwmeester

Goalie

Carter Hutton

Kings projected lineup

Forwards

Alex Iafallo -- Anze Kopitar -- Dustin Brown

Tanner Pearson -- Nick Shore -- Tyler Toffoli

Marian Gaborik -- Adrian Kempe -- Trevor Lewis

Jussi Jokinen -- Nic Dowd -- Jonny Brodzinski

Defensemen

Jake Muzzin -- Drew Doughty

Kurtis MacDermid -- Alec Martinez

Derek Forbert -- Christian Folin

Goalie

Darcy Kuemper

Jonathan Quick

Scratched: Oscar Fantenberg, Torrey Mitchell

Injured: Jeff Carter (lower body), Kyle Clifford (upper body), Andy Andreoff (upper body)

***

GUNNY, SUNNY BACK

It's been two weeks since Carl Gunnarsson got in a game; he hasn't played since Nov. 18 at Vancouver. Then Jay Bouwmeester came back and someone had to sit. It was Gunnarsson.

“It's a good feeling to walk in and see your number on the board,” he said. “I'm excited for tonight.

“It's not easy, it's not fun. It's been a while now, just been trying to grind away and prove I want to be back in the lineup and tonight's my shot.”

As for Sundqvist, he was out for one game when Berglund came back and now he's back in.

"It feels like you're getting trusted when it's not a long stretch you're out," he said. "It's one game, and I'm getting another chance tonight. It helps your confidence a little bit to know that the coaches believe in you."

HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER

It's Hockey Fights Cancer night for the Blues, who will skate in the pregame with jerseys with multicolored numbers in honor of Ari Dougan, the young cancer patient who accompanied the team on a trip last season and

who was partial to that look. Dougan died on Nov. 11 and her family will drop the ceremonial first puck tonight.

Carter Hutton and Jake Allen both have special masks for the evening. (Hutton is starting.) Hutton's has about 400 names on it of children who have cancer or have been affected by it, from the group Friend of Kids with Cancer.

Allen's mask also has the names of children with cancer and it also includes a snake drawn by Alex Pietrangelo's niece, Ellie Kannel, who has a cancer of the kidneys.