How Can the Kings Get Back on Track?

When the Kings lost a few games last week it was easy to blame the four-in-five-nights schedule.

As the losing streak continued into this week some pointed to the injuries of Willie Mitchell and/or Alexei Ponikarovsky. That's too easy though and it hasn't slowed other teams. Take Nashville on Thursday - they were missing Steve Sullivan, Matthew Lombardi, Cal O'Reilly, etc. and they played the night before in Anaheim. Yet, they still beat LA 5-2.

So, what will it take to turn things around?

Here's what some of the players had to say following practice on Friday...

Jack Johnson - I think we need to be a little bit quicker. Teams have been quicker than us, especially in the last few games we've been losing. I feel like they've been out-skating us. When you play a team that seems like they're a little bit faster, you're going to have a long night. As a whole, we need to be on our toes a little bit more and skating more.

Then, Along Came Jonathan Bernier

Heading into the game on March 30th of last season, the Nashville Predators were riding a seven game unbeaten streak against the LA Kings - a stretch going back to the beginning of the 2008-09 season.

Then, along came Jonathan Bernier.

With Erik Ersberg suffering from a strained back, he was recalled from Manchester, stepped right into the line-up and delivered a 2-0 shutout - the first of his career (in just his sixth NHL start).

When the Predators came to Los Angeles for the first game of their four-game season series with the Kings this year, Bernier was back in net again.

The Kings won 4-1. Unfortunately, his second shutout was ruined with less than three minutes to go in the game. Still, Bernier 2 - Predators 0 lifetime.

So, it was a natural choice when Kings coach Terry Murray decided to pull Bernier from his near-permanent seat on the bench and return him to the net against Nashville tonight.

On cue, Bernier delivered.

Kings 6, Predators 1.

There's a good chance Jonathan Quick will start the next nine Kings games in a row, beginning Sunday against the Blackhawks.  Fortunately for Bernier, the Predators come to Los Angeles on Thursday, January 6.

Other stats and post game notes...