LOS ANGELES — Although the Los Angeles Kings were not lighting the National Hockey League on fire by scoring goals in bunches before losing their top two scorers, the task at hand has become far more difficult. After losing right wing Justin Williams to a dislocated right shoulder on March 21, and then losing star... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: From Top To Bottom, LA Kings Must Raise Their Level Of Play
LOS ANGELES — Those who are old enough to remember the CBS television show from the late 1960’s, The Wild Wild West, starring Robert Conrad and Ross Martin, should be able to relate very easily to what’s been going on in the National Hockey League’s Western Conference this season. Indeed, the The Wild Wild West... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: Will LA Kings Netminders Hold Up Or Collapse From All That Weight On Their Shoulders?
LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings are currently in the Western Conference playoff picture, holding down the eighth and final playoff berth, through games played on March 6. But they are just four points behind the fourth place Chicago Blackhawks, and six points behind the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks,... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: Strong Play On The Road Gets LA Kings Back In The Hunt
EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings have returned to Southern California following a six-game Eastern road swing in which they earned a respectable 3-1-2 record. But that was part of a larger nine-game stretch of games, all on the road, in which they emerged with a 5-1-3 record, earning 13 out of a... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: Young Defenseman Alec Martinez A Surprise With LA Kings
EL SEGUNDO, CA — So far this season, the Los Angeles Kings have been a surprise, but mostly for the wrong reasons. Indeed, the Kings were expected to be among the top teams in the Western Conference. But after a stretch in November when they lost seven out of eight games, and an even more... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: LA Kings Must Climb A Mountain Called “February” To Make Playoffs
LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — After a dreadful 3-8-0 performance in January, not to mention a stretch where they lost ten of twelve games going back to December 29, the Los Angeles Kings are now looking up at a mountain in their schedule akin to some of tallest mountains and steepest cliffs in... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: Los Angeles Kings: Players Must Turn It Around On Their Own…For Now
LOS ANGELES — Having lost nine out of their last eleven games, the Los Angeles Kings are hurtling into an all-to-familiar abyss, one where they get an early summer vacation while the good teams continue on to the National Hockey League’s second season, the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Oh...by the way, the Kings have only been... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: Los Angeles Kings Need A Major Attitude Adjustment
LOS ANGELES — Although the Los Angeles Kings are just one game beyond the halfway point in their season and a lot of hockey is left to be played, they are in deep, deep trouble. Despite a strong start to their season and a 9-3-0 run in December, the Kings have had a stretch in... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: LA Kings: When Will They Become More Than Just A Tease?
LOS ANGELES — After riding the roller coaster that is the 2010-11 Los Angeles Kings, one can only wonder when they will become more than just a tease. A tease is exactly what the Kings are right now, given their penchant for showing that they can dominate the National Hockey League’s best teams with stellar... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: LA Kings’ Kyle Clifford Is Starting To Surpass Early Expectations
LOS ANGELES — Although the Los Angeles Kings have been rather inconsistent after a 12-3-0 start, they are now 6-3-1 in their last ten games, as of this writing. The biggest reasons have been the superb play of goaltender Jonathan Quick and the more than solid play of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams,... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: Los Angeles Kings Need To Solve Power Play Woes Soon
LOS ANGELES — After a blazing hot 12-3-0 start to the season, followed by a stretch where they lost seven out of eight games, the Los Angeles Kings are now in a 4-0-1 stretch heading into St. Louis, where they will skate on December 16 against the Blues, who trail the Kings by two points... Continue Reading →
Gann Matsuda On The Hockey Writers: Defenseman Prospect Alec Martinez Is Making An Immediate Impact With LA Kings
LOS ANGELES — Back in the spring of 2008, defenseman prospect Alec Martinez had just finished his third year at Miami University (Ohio) and had put his John Hancock on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Several months later, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi predicted that his fourth round (95th overall) pick... Continue Reading →
