Anze Kopitar’s postgame thoughts… (on the game…) KOPITAR: “We’ve got to start playing like we did in the beginning of the year, those first 15 games. We’ve got to get started again. … Chicago is a good team, we’ve got to work harder and smarter. If we work hard, we’re going to break through.” (on [...]

Rob Scuderi’s postgame thoughts… (on the game…) SCUDERI: “We had a good last six or seven minutes there, but it’s certainly not enough to win a hockey game especially against a very good opponent.” (on the losing streak…) SCUDERI: “It’s frustrating to us because we’re just so close. We haven’t been blown out of games, [...]

The Kings got only Anze Kopitar’s 5-on-3 goal and now, having lost six of their last seven games, are in ninth place in the Western Conference, ahead of 10th-place San Jose only because of goal differential. More from the locker room to come…

The Kings got on the board, and pulled within one goal, with a 5-on-3 goal with 5:02 remaining in the third period. Anze Kopitar shot, through traffic, and scored to cut Chicago’s lead to 2-1. Jack Johnson and Ryan Smyth picked up assists.

Shortly after a Kings power play ended, early in the third period, the Blackhawks took a two-goal lead at the 1:06 mark. Patrick Kane went to the net and the puck appeared to deflect off his midsection and past Quick. Tomas Kopecky and Patrick Sharp picked up assists.

The Blackhawks got on the board in the second period, and the Kings recorded only three shots on goal. Shots are 17-12 in favor of Chicago. The Kings will be on the power play for the first 45 seconds of the third period, and the Blackhawks are 8-3-1 this season when leading after two periods.

The Blackhawks broke the scoreless tie with 9:24 remaining in the second period. The Kings had a strong scoring chance, but Jack Johnson had his shot attempt from the high slot blocked, and Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith pushed the puck ahead to start a 2-on-1 break. Patrick Kane passed across to Patrick Sharp, who scored [...]

The Kings outshot the Blackhawks 9-7 in the first period and killed the period’s only power play. Marian Hossa had a breakaway late in the period, but Rob Scuderi broke it up at the last moment. The Kings will be on the power play for the first 1:59 of the second period.

Here’s how the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to skate tonight, followed by a couple stories from the Chicago media coming out of last night’s Blackhawks victory over Anaheim. For those attending the game, I’ll also post the Kings’ lineup and the full Chicago roster… Victor Stalberg-Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane Tomas Kopecky-Patrick Sharp-Marian Hossa Bryan Bickell-Dave Bolland-John [...]

If Kings coach Terry Murray is concerned about the play of Matt Greene and/or Jack Johnson, he’s doing a good job of publicly hiding it. Greene and Johnson had been a pair, but were split up before the Montreal game, and tonight the Kings are expected to stay with the same pairs (Drew Doughty and [...]

The first, third and fourth lines will get new looks tonight, but the second line is the survivor. Ryan Smyth, Jarret Stoll and Justin Williams have combined for 23 of the Kings’ 59 goals this season, and even during this recent six-game skid, they’ve been fairly solid producers. So if Terry Murray felt tempted to [...]

Dustin Brown’s move to left wing has been a talker for the last couple days, but just as important — if not more — will be Wayne Simmonds’ move to the first line. Simmonds brings a much different skill set than the last few players the Kings have tried on the first line — Dwight [...]

The Kings saw enough of Marty Turco last month, when the Chicago goalie made 33 saves and was a huge factor in the Blackhawks’ 3-1 victory over the Kings, a game in which the Kings played very well. Tonight, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, Corey Crawford gets the start. Crawford made 26 [...]

After some consolation with Anze Kopitar, it has been determined that Dustin Brown will actually become the Kings’ seventh first-line left-winger this season. I had counted six, but Kopitar is accurate in that Michal Handzus played on his wing during the third period of the San Jose game this month, so technically Brown becomes No. [...]

The Kings had an optional skate this morning — 13 of 19 skaters on the ice — and are expected to use the same lines and pairs as yesterday’s practice. Rob Scuderi is still dealing with some type of undisclosed ailment and did not skate this morning. Terry Murray said he expects Scuderi will play [...]

Brayden Schenn scored his first two professional goals last night, for Manchester. For the rest of the Monarchs update, I’ll turn it over to our faithful correspondent Holly, who posted a great report on last night’s game… —– Monarchs won 7-2 over Albany (formerly one of our top rivals, Lowell) at home tonight. All in [...]

After today’s practice, Terry Murray got asked the simple question, “What changed?” After a 12-3-0 start, the Kings are 1-5-0 in their last six. At different points during the slide, fingers could be pointed in every direction — defensive-zone coverage, goalies, power play, offensive production, penalty kill, etc. — but is there an overriding theme? [...]

Trevor Lewis’ rise continues. Lewis started the season as a frequent healthy scratch, then earned solid reviews of late as the fourth-line center. Now, Lewis will take another step, as the Kings’ third-line right-winger alongside center Michal Handzus and left winger Kyle Clifford, filling the spot vacated when Wayne Simmonds moved to the first line. [...]

Terry Murray’s preseason declaration, that he would seek to play backup goalie Jonathan Bernier at least once a week, will now be put to the test. Of course, Murray gave himself some wiggle room a few days ago when he said that he would consider re-evaluating the goalie plan that he had “penciled in” during [...]

The Kings’ mercurial internal search for a first-line left winger has led them to team captain, and natural right winger, Dustin Brown. When the Kings play Chicago tomorrow night, Brown will become the sixth player — following Ryan Smyth, Brad Richardson, Andrei Loktionov, Scott Parse and Dwight King — to start a game in that [...]