After failing to score on the first two power plays of the first period, the Kings pulled to within 2-1 on a power-play goal with 1:23 remaining in the period. After some puck movement, Jarret Stoll shot from the middle of the left circle and his wrist shot beat Niklas Backstrom.

Minnesota needed less than two minutes to score again for a 2-0 lead. Nick Schultz took a heavy slap shot from just inside the blue line, and it got deflected — apparently by a Kings player in front — and into the Kings’ net 7:42 into the first period.

The Kings had a handful of quality scoring chances in the first five minutes, but Minnesota struck first, with a goal at the 5:52 mark. Quick made the save on Clayton Stoner’s long-range shot, but couldn’t hold the puck or cover the rebound, and John Madden swooped in and knocked in the loose puck.

To catch up on today’s news and notes, please check out my LAKings.com notebook, which you can find by clicking here. Also, to get ready for tonight’s game, you can click below to check out a couple pictures I took this morning. First is a statue (and accompanying plaques) honoring coach Herb Brooks, that stands [...]

The Kings have put Drew Doughty on injured reserve and called up Jake Muzzin from Manchester. Doughty’s move is retroactive to Oct. 21, so he could technically play as soon as Thursday if he was healthy.

The Minnesota Wild have put up astounding numbers on the power play this season. The Wild have scored 12 of their 21 goals this season while on the power play. They lead the league in power-play efficiency, at 38.7 percent, and have a 52.6 percent power-play efficiency in four home games. That will be quite [...]

The Kings will try to ride the hot hand tonight. Brad Richardson, who recorded his first career hat trick in Saturday’s victory over Colorado, will remain on the first line — he moved there in the second period Saturday — with center Anze Kopitar and right winger Dustin Brown. Richardson had some success on the [...]

Matt Greene had a happy return for the Kings on Saturday in Colorado, as he played more than 21 minutes and had a plus-2 rating in the Kings’ win. As he did in that game, Greene will start tonight in a pairing with Willie Mitchell. The second game back can sometimes be tough for a [...]

Drew Doughty, who tonight will miss his third consecutive game with an apparent concussion, will not be able to play Wednesday against Chicago. The Kings had held out hope that Doughty would be able to return, but he has not been medically cleared to play.

For the two junior-eligible players on the Kings’ roster, it’s been a bit of the “rookie shuffle.” Kyle Clifford played against Carolina while Brayden Schenn sat out. Schenn returned to play against Phoenix and Colorado while Clifford sat. Now they trade places again tonight in Minnesota, as Clifford will play left wing on the fourth [...]

The Kings are expected to stay with Brad Richardson as the first-line left winger. The second and third lines will stay the same, with Andrei Loktionov centering Kyle Clifford and Kevin Westgarth on the fourth line. No changes are expected on defense and Jonathan Quick will start in goal. More from the morning skate to [...]

Drew Doughty will be skating in L.A. today, for the fourth consecutive day, and it’s still possible that he will play Wednesday in Chicago. The Kings might learn more about his status this afternoon.

Here’s this morning’s view from St. Paul, where it’s cool but dry. Morning skate will be underway shortly…

As of last night, the Kings had not had any communication from the NHL office regarding Wayne Simmonds’ “butt-ending” penalty, so at this point it’s unlikely that there will be any supplemental discipline handed down.

The Manchester Monarchs ran their win streak to three games with a weekend sweep. Today, they beat Charlotte 2-1 at home, as recent goalie call-up Martin Jones stopped 35 of 36 shots to win his AHL debut. David Meckler scored a first-period goal and Corey Elkins scored a third-period power-play goal to make it 2-0, [...]

Given last night’s 2:30 a.m. arrival in St. Paul, and the impending three games in four nights (again), the Kings got the day off from coach Terry Murray today. The team arrived to a torrential downpour and lightning storm last night, but it’s actually pleasant today in the Twin Cities. No news today on whether [...]

Some notes from last night’s game… – The Kings got a hat trick from Brad Richardson, plus power-play goals from Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown and an even-strength goal from Alexei Ponikarovsky, to outlast the Colorado Avalanche 6-4 in the teams’ first meeting this season. – Richardson recorded his first career hat trick against the [...]

The great news for charity is that in last night’s Twitter “hashtag battle,” Children’s Hospital Los Angeles picked up $29,374. That’s $1 for every Twitter hashtag of “#GOKINGS,” and the Kings won the competition against the Colorado Avalanche by a margin of 29,374 to 13,876. The amazing news is that at one point last night, [...]

Here’s my LAKings.com game story for tonight, with stats and video included. Thanks for reading! Kings beat Avalanche 6-4

Terry Murray’s postgame thoughts… (on the special-teams win…) MURRAY: “We were due, were we not? [smiles]” (on the game-winning shorthanded goal…) MURRAY: “You put some of the pieces in place, pursuing the puck, putting pressure and getting down ice quickly, like Richardson. He’s quickly pursuing the puck that is cleared, and forcing a play. It [...]