Ducks at Kings Freeway Faceoff - pregame primer

Tonight will be game number 103 between the Kings and Ducks.

Last year, Anaheim took the season series four games to two.

Through 17 games played by each team, the scales are titled towards the Kings - they have more wins (8 to 6), points (19 to 15), have scored more goals per game (2.41 to a league low 2.00), given up fewer goals per game (2.24 to 2.82), have a better power play (20.3% conversion to 13.6) and have won a greater percentage of faceoffs (51.9% to 46.6%).

What does all of that mean? Not much. The Ducks come in having won the last three games played between the two clubs, including the last two in Los Angeles.

Don't expect a heavyweight fight tonight either. George Parros is out recovering from eye surgery. Kevin Westgarth will be a healthy scratch.  (If you want to read a great story about Parros and a Chewbacca suit when he was a Kings prospect playing in Manchester, click here.)

Over the summer, Mike Richards was on MayorsManor talking about his relationship with Corey Perry (here) - which followed up Bobby Ryan talking about his friendship with several Kings players (here) the previous off season.

Still, don't expect a love fest out on the ice. The tension has been growing between these two teams over the last few years.

Slava Voynov... The LA Kings Savior?

Slava Voynov in LA (photo: C. Ikiri)

With Slava Voynov and Andrei Loktionov back in town this week, it was time to brush up on my Russian translation skills.

I called up old friend Alexander Frolov first, but his number had been changed. When I dialed up Vitali Yachmenev next, he just wanted to talk about playing with Gretzky at the Forum - so he wasn't much help.

Alex Zhitnik was worth a shot, but I couldn't understand a thing he said. So, finally, I called up Kelly Hrudey. He doesn't speak Russian, however he always takes my calls.

Although none of the above really happened yesterday, the following did take place...

After practice, I tried to ask Voynov a few questions. It wasn't the thick Russian accent or basic level English that gave me the most trouble though - it was trying to understand what he was saying while smiling from ear to ear. I'm really not sure who was happier, Voynov or Loktionov. They both were smiling so much it was starting to freak me out.

Here's some crib notes from our chat:

- He actually practiced with the Monarchs on Monday, then was told he'd been called up. It wasn't long before he was at the airport and headed to LA.

Penner on missing the Ducks game, when he'll be back

Penner after LA Kings practice

When the Kings returned from Europe last month, Matt Greene shared a story about the one thing he never wants to see again...and yes, it had to do with Dustin Penner.

Well, yesterday, it wasn't quite up to the level of the Greene story - but, Penner was practicing with a yellow jersey on, due to his 'upper body' injury.

As Jarret Stoll referred to him - Penner is just a large, bear of a man.  So, that's a lot of yellow and perhaps too much for the eyes.

He was the last one off the ice. In fact, by the time he made his way to the back, all other players were gone. Yet, as The Killers played on the ipod in the background, we had time for a quick chat...

MM: Any idea when you'll be back?

DP: Day to day, month to month, to week to week.

MM: That's about as clear as a middle body injury.

Murray not impressed with Loktionov so far, chance is now

Loktionov in preseason (photo: M. Zampelli)

Along with his comments about Slava Voynov and the new defensive pairings (posted in earlier articles last hour), Kings coach Terry Murray had plenty to say about the 'other' Russian who's now in town, forward Andrei Loktionov.

For the second day in a row, Murray had the 2008 NHL draft pick playing on the Kings' second line, with Mike Richards and Dustin Brown.

Following practice, Murray talked a little bit about the expectations surrounding Loktionov right now...

"He'll be playing on one of the top two lines here, playing with Richards, that's an important position that he's in. Same as Voynov, he's in a position to play some important minutes."

The move to put him on the left wing is at least eyebrow raising, as Murray and Loktionov both spent quite a bit of time late last season and over the summer talking about the fact the young Russian is better suited for the center position. Murray addressed that point as well...

"Well, I had many different scenarios in my mind on how it would all come together in the summertime, thinking Loktionov would really feed off of his opportunity from last year. I felt his training camp was off, quite frankly. in the exhibition games, in the practices, I saw some hesitation, I saw him not handling the puck, not transporting the puck through the middle of the ice and creating in the offensive zone, as I envisioned it would be. So, with that, that's where it ended up at the start of the year - with him back in Manchester. Now, it's a situation where I need a player to fit into a position. We're pretty much set down the middle. If he's going to fit in and be a player for us, he's up on an IR replacing Penner, we're looking for offense and we're looking for goals. We feel with Loktionov fitting in there now, he's going to give us that same look - creativity, he's a hockey player, he has a high IQ on the ice, I think. He's going to make plays with Richards and Brown."

He went on to talk about any motivational tactics he may use on the two players just called up from Manchester...

Murray gives major props to Martinez, talks Voynov's return

As noted in the post last hour, after Kings practice today coach Terry Murray discussed he defensive pairings he'll be using tomorrow night against the visiting Anaheim Ducks.

With Slava Voynov back in LA, to replace the injured Alec Martinez, things were mixed up a bit - as Voynov will be partnered with Willie Mitchell, Drew Doughty's regular partner, rather than just sliding into the spot Martinez held alongside Matt Greene.

When asked about the pairings, the first things Murray noted was how impressed he was with Martinez in the last game...

"Voynov's back and you know why he's back - that's the only way you can bring him back up is through putting a player on the IR. Unfortunately, for the Marty (Martinez), that will give him a little bit of time to get some rehab and get back back into the line-up. I was very surprised that he came back and played the other night. He really showed me a lot of character. He sucked up quite a bit of discomfort to be able to come back and play. And he scored a huge goal, that was good for him."

As for why Voynov will be paired with Mitchell, here's the explanation...

Kings coach Murray 'Jack and Doughty are coming of age'

One of the more newsworthy items coming out of Kings practice this morning was coach Terry Murray revealing how he'll use the just-called-up Slava Voynov.

With Alec Martinez going on the injured reserve list yesterday, it allowed the Russian blueliner to return to Los Angeles.

Murray said he'll be pairing Voynov with Willie Mitchell, moving Drew Doughty to play with Jack Johnson, and leaving Rob Scuderi with Matt Greene.

On the reuniting of Johnson and Doughty, a pair Murray went to quite a bit following both having success for their national teams at the 2010 Winter Olympics, here's what the coach had to say...

"I used it on the power play, going back a couple years ago. They played very well together. They're coming of age where they play hard for each other. There's always a time early in a career, when you're young, when you want to try to do a lot of stuff out there. Right now it's about the team and a pair of d-men being very good, playing a lot of minutes, playing in important and critical situations, and getting the job done. All four of those guys that we're talking about are mobile, they pass the puck, see the ice and, ideally, you want to get the puck going as quickly as possible and have those guys joining as part of the attack. And helping on that secondary part of the scoring."

Did the fact the Kings are playing Anaheim, a division opponent, twice this week have anything to do with how Murray decided to put the pairs together?

The Russians are invading LA - are you prepared?

The Kings will have have a new injection of Eastern European blood when they take the ice on Wednesday night against the visiting Anaheim Ducks.

Two of LA's top prospects were recalled today - forward Andrei Loktionov and defenseman Slava Voynov. Both were born in Russia and drafted by the Kings in the 2008 NHL Draft.

Although they've played the last few seasons together in Manchester, New Hampshire for the Kings' top minor league affiliate, they were born about 1,000 miles apart in their native land. Loktionov hails from Voskresensk, a city not far from Moscow, while Voynov is originally from Chelyabinsk - which is further east on a map.

Voynov held down the fort while Drew Doughty was negotiating a new contract with the Kings during training camp and was the last player cut before opening night rosters were submitted to the NHL.

Then, after Doughty was injured in the fourth game of the season, Voynov was recalled and played the next five games with the team - picking up two goals and an assist. He also scored a goal in his last game with the Monarchs this past Saturday. It was his third goal and fourth point in the AHL this year.

Halloween costume pics, stories from the LA Kings party

On Tuesday, October 25, it may have been some other players dressed up as the Kings - because coach Terry Murray's team just didn't look like themselves in a 3-0 loss at home to New Jersey.

A few nights earlier, the Kings did actually trade in their sweaters for a variety of different costumes at the team's annual Halloween party.

In something that sounds more like a joke - but it's the truth - the big winners of the night were Simon Gagne and his wife, who dressed up like clowns. "They really went all out," said forward Trevor Lewis and defenseman Matt Greene called the pair "awesome."

Apparently, it was so good they won the 'award' for best dressed - a small 'Emmy-like trophy' according to Jarret Stoll.

Several players commented they also liked Rob Scuderi's choice of outfits (he and his wife came as Duff Man and Marge Simpson). Another popular get up was worn by captain Dustin Brown, who came as one of the tight clothed officers from Comedy Central's Reno 911.

However, the always sharp dressed Stoll had high praise for an unlikely forward, one who barely ever shows a personality to the media and is known for being a man of very (and I mean VERY) few words.

POLL: Which player should the LA Kings call up today?

Two big things happened over the weekend. First, the Kings offense woke up and scored five goals on Saturday night - the third time they've hit the nickel mark this season. Then, yesterday, left wing Dustin Penner was placed on the injured reserve list for a hand injury he suffered back in Thursday night's game vs. the Canucks.

When Scott Parse went down last week, center Colin Fraser was activated.

This time around, they don't have an extra forward here in LA waiting around. So, expect to see somebody from Manchester (AHL) headed West.

Down two left wings, who could it be?

Here are the likely candidates to select from (in alphabetical order)...

Rich Clune, LW - one of only two players on this list who has NHL experience (played 14 games for the Kings in 2009-10)...is known primarily as an agitator, he plays a high energy game and ironically, any consideration he gets will be in large part be due to two players who left the organization

Ray Kaunisto, LW - one of the rare left wings on this list and the funniest guy from Manchester on twitter...he'll call out anybody, even his own wife

Dwight King, LW - the other player on the list with NHL experience (six games last year)...he was also the guy the team tried to call up when Jarret Stoll was suspended in the playoffs, but they couldn't get it done in time...was one of the last players cut in camp this season...has six points in 17 games with Manchester this season

LA Kings def Wild 5-2 - postgame locker room comments

After the Kings defeated the Wild 5-2 in front of another sell out crowd at Staples Center on Saturday night, here was some of the reaction coming from both locker rooms...

- Dustin Brown on the overall game: "The last four periods is a tell tale sign of how we need to play with the puck. The defense moved the puck a little quicker getting it up the ice."

- Brown on the power play goal by Alec Martinez: "That was probably the turning point in the game, really. We had a five-minute opportunity to really put the nail in the coffin and [Justin] Williams made a good play from low and we found a goal to go up 2-0 and we went from there.”

- Coach Terry Murray on his milestone game: "It doesn’t really feel any different, anything special. It’s a game that was very important for us to win. I really liked the focus coming into the game tonight. The players came out right away with the kind of intensity and attitude of moving their feet, getting pucks going north, and recovering pucks. That was a huge first goal that Fraser scored on a nice play by Moreau from behind the net. That’s what I like about the milestone: the fact that the team played well and won the game."