Vegas
02-01-2007, 09:04 PM
Just maybe the Kings are facing a team bad enough that they can get a win tonight.
The teams with the worst records in the Western Conference meet Thursday when the Chicago Blackhawks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=chi) open a season-high seven-game road trip against the Los Angeles Kings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=los).
Chicago (18-25-7) snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 4-3 overtime win over Calgary on Sunday, two days before Los Angeles (17-30-6) fell 4-1 to the Flames for its ninth defeat in 10 games.
The slides have dropped the clubs to the bottom of the conference standings, with the Blackhawks holding a three-point edge over the Kings.
Chicago hopes it can build on Sunday's victory and avoid a fourth straight loss in Los Angeles. The Blackhawks have not won consecutive games since Dec. 16-17.
Denis Arkhipov (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2080) had a power-play goal at 2:53 of overtime Sunday after scoring the tying goal with 44 seconds left in regulation for Chicago.
"It's a big win for us," said Arkhipov, who has eight goals with the Blackhawks after having only nine in 72 games last season for Nashville. "It's a special feeling."
Chicago coach Denis Savard appeared emotional after the team's first win since Jan. 2 at St. Louis.
"Some nights, no luck," Savard said. "Finally we got a little luck, but we earned it big time, big time.
"There's a bunch of good men in that room and... I'm proud of them."
The Blackhawks, who play nine of their next 10 contests away from Chicago, hope to carry some momentum on their extended trip. They have dropped three straight road games are 7-14-4 overall away from home for the second-fewest road points in the conference (18), ahead of only Los Angeles (12).
Chicago will not play at home again until Feb. 16 against Vancouver.
This is the first matchup of the season between these clubs, with the final three taking place in March. The Blackhawks have lost five of the last six meetings overall, and haven't won at Staples Center since Oct. 25, 2003.
Los Angeles looks to avoid matching a season high with its fifth straight home loss. The team has scored only six goals in its last four home games, failing to convert on any of its 21 power-play opportunities.
Michael Cammalleri (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2991) did get a power-play goal in Tuesday's loss, but former Kings center Craig Conroy (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1195) netted a pair in his first game with Calgary since being traded Monday for Jamie Lundmark (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2021) and two draft picks.
"Obviously, we didn't want that to happen," Cammalleri said. "The guys that know him, and we have a pretty personal relationship with Connie, we'd be happy for him if he did it against somebody else, but we don't want him doing that against us."
Los Angeles tries to rebound Thursday before starting a season-high five-game road trip at Florida on Saturday.
The teams with the worst records in the Western Conference meet Thursday when the Chicago Blackhawks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=chi) open a season-high seven-game road trip against the Los Angeles Kings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=los).
Chicago (18-25-7) snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 4-3 overtime win over Calgary on Sunday, two days before Los Angeles (17-30-6) fell 4-1 to the Flames for its ninth defeat in 10 games.
The slides have dropped the clubs to the bottom of the conference standings, with the Blackhawks holding a three-point edge over the Kings.
Chicago hopes it can build on Sunday's victory and avoid a fourth straight loss in Los Angeles. The Blackhawks have not won consecutive games since Dec. 16-17.
Denis Arkhipov (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2080) had a power-play goal at 2:53 of overtime Sunday after scoring the tying goal with 44 seconds left in regulation for Chicago.
"It's a big win for us," said Arkhipov, who has eight goals with the Blackhawks after having only nine in 72 games last season for Nashville. "It's a special feeling."
Chicago coach Denis Savard appeared emotional after the team's first win since Jan. 2 at St. Louis.
"Some nights, no luck," Savard said. "Finally we got a little luck, but we earned it big time, big time.
"There's a bunch of good men in that room and... I'm proud of them."
The Blackhawks, who play nine of their next 10 contests away from Chicago, hope to carry some momentum on their extended trip. They have dropped three straight road games are 7-14-4 overall away from home for the second-fewest road points in the conference (18), ahead of only Los Angeles (12).
Chicago will not play at home again until Feb. 16 against Vancouver.
This is the first matchup of the season between these clubs, with the final three taking place in March. The Blackhawks have lost five of the last six meetings overall, and haven't won at Staples Center since Oct. 25, 2003.
Los Angeles looks to avoid matching a season high with its fifth straight home loss. The team has scored only six goals in its last four home games, failing to convert on any of its 21 power-play opportunities.
Michael Cammalleri (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2991) did get a power-play goal in Tuesday's loss, but former Kings center Craig Conroy (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1195) netted a pair in his first game with Calgary since being traded Monday for Jamie Lundmark (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2021) and two draft picks.
"Obviously, we didn't want that to happen," Cammalleri said. "The guys that know him, and we have a pretty personal relationship with Connie, we'd be happy for him if he did it against somebody else, but we don't want him doing that against us."
Los Angeles tries to rebound Thursday before starting a season-high five-game road trip at Florida on Saturday.