As posted earlier, the Kings will make changes to three of their four forward lines tonight. The top line (Smyth-Kopitar-Simmonds) remains intact, while the second line gets a new center (Brad Richardson), the third line gets a new winger (Justin Williams) and Jarret Stoll moves down to the fourth-line center spot. Scott Parse comes out [...]

Here’s what Drew Doughty said after today’s morning skate about his nomination for the Norris Trophy… DOUGHTY: “It obviously means a lot. Coming in, this was only my second year, and being able to be in that category is a pretty amazing feeling. The two guys who are there obviously had great seasons, and to [...]

We hope — fingers crossed here — that we have resolved the blog server issues and that traffic will be OK tonight. For those who have the site bookmarked, please make sure it’s set to http://www.lakingsinsider.com, as that is where the blog is now hosted. It has had a different host for the past few [...]

The Kings will use the forward lines tonight that they had in the morning skate. Terry Murray said he wanted to get Justin Williams back in for the experience factor and said he wants better puck possession from the second line, so he made the move with Richardson there. Much more to come from the [...]

Here’s how the Kings are skating this morning… Smyth-Kopitar-Simmonds Frolov-Richardson-Brown Modin-Handzus-Williams Clune-Stoll-Halpern Scuderi-Doughty Johnson-Jones O’Donnell-Greene Quick Much more to come after the skate…

If Terry Murray and the Kings never hear the word “twins” again after this series, they will probably be happy. Chances are, they will even be boycotting the awesome 1988 movie “Twins,” featuring the governor and Danny DeVito. Murray gets daily questions about how to deal with Vancouver’s Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and yesterday Murray [...]

Drew Doughty has been selected as a finalist for the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s best defenseman. Chicago’s Duncan Keith and Washington’s Mike Green are the other two finalists. The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 23. It’s interesting to note that none of the finalists [...]

Staples Center has confirmed that Game 6 will start at 6 p.m. Sunday.

It has often been said that Terry Murray is perhaps the most even-keel coach in the NHL. Perhaps that’s what the Kings need right now? They came off a tough loss and squandered a chance to take a big lead in this series, and now they have to go into one of the toughest environments [...]

After Game 4, Kings goalie Jonathan Quick was true to his nature. It’s to Quick’s credit that, when things go well, he gives credit to his teammates and, when things go bad, he takes responsibility on his own shoulders. Quick’s self-analysis after Game 4 included the observation that goalies need to make big saves in [...]

If the Kings want to figure out what NOT to do in this situation, they can go ask the Vancouver Canucks. In the second round last year, the Canucks led the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in the series and held a 1-0 lead late in the third period of Game 4. The Blackhawks scored in overtime [...]

In the context of the strong third period by the Sedins last night, it seemed as though the Kings, at times, got caught up in a track-meet style of game, trading scoring chances with the Canucks instead of focusing on their usual patience and forechecking. As a result, they gave the Canucks 17 shots on [...]

Justin Williams has been a healthy scratch from the previous two games, and this morning, Terry Murray was asked whether he had any thoughts about getting Williams back into the lineup for Game 5. Murray grinned and said, “Oh, I’ve got lots of thoughts.” Murray was then asked whether he had any PLANS for Williams [...]

Matchups are important in any playoff series, and give Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault credit for a move that worked well in Game 4. The Canucks moved up Mikael Samuelsson to a line with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and the line was very difficult for the Kings to control in the third period. Today, the Kings [...]

A lot of the talk today was about last night’s game being a missed opportunity for the Kings, given that they held a third-period lead but lost and now must win at least one game in Vancouver in order to take the series. Since there was no practice today, it’s hard to get much of [...]

Terry Murray said he is contemplating a lineup change to get Justin Williams back in the lineup, but said he would continue to think about it today. No changes on defense are expected. Lots of talk about the emotional side of the game, given that the Kings were one good period away from a 3-1 [...]

Terry Murray was asked today about the veteran presence of players such as Ryan Smyth and Jarret Stoll — who went to the Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton in 2006 — and whether their personalities led them to being “coaches on the ice” for younger players… MURRAY: “They want to play coaching roles, sometimes. (laughs) [...]

To be certain, Terry Murray doesn’t want the Vancouver Canucks to “fix” their penalty kill. The Kings are 7-for-12 on the power play entering tonight’s Game 4, a huge reason why they hold a 2-1 lead in the series. Murray was asked today though, in general, how a team can go about making fixes to [...]

Here’s the second, and final, part of my interview with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, in which he discusses the collective-bargaining situation, hits to the head, the importance of the Los Angeles market, building momentum after the Olympics, the idea of “East Coast bias” in the league and his role as commissioner… —– Question: Could you [...]

Here’s the first part of my interview with NHL commission Gary Bettman today, in which he discusses the “kicked-in goal” from Game 3, the league’s television arrangement, the possibility of the Winter Classic in Los Angeles, relocation/expansion, the league’s online-streaming thoughts and the possibility of seeing Eastern Conference teams every year… —– Question: There’s been [...]