One challenge behind, another looms

For the Kings, one challenge is in the rear-view mirror, and another looms. The Kings have three home games before their extra-long, eight-day All-Star break, and each brings a challenge. Tonight, Calgary will be out for revenge after its loss to the Kings five days ago. On Saturday, Colorado had been one of the NHL’s hottest teams before a recent wobble. On Monday, Ottawa comes in with a 9-1-1 record in its last 11 games. Can the Kings maintain some momentum at home? That will be critical. They’re 5-1-2 at home under Darryl Sutter, who has tried to put an extra emphasis on home-game preparation. The Kings need to bank some points right now, as Mike Richards knows, because in February they play 10 of 14 games on the road.

RICHARDS: “It’s just keeping the momentum that we built for ourselves on the road, and bring it back home. What has been a struggle for us has been our play at home. Our record at home isn’t what it should be, and we have to get better at that. Down the stretch, you’re going to have to take advantage of your home games, because we’re going on the road, I think, all of February for the most part. So it’s something that we have to take advantage of, and especially give a big push before we get a little bit of a break. It’s a big focus for us.’’