Reilly
11-11-2005, 04:44 AM
Los Angeles Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) (10-5-1) at Chicago Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) (6-10-0).
TIME: Friday, 8:30 p.m. EST.
The Chicago Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) look to put together three straight wins for the first time this season when they host the first-place Los Angeles Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307).
The Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) posted consecutive wins for the first time in 41 games dating to the 2003-04 season with a 4-2 victory over the struggling St. Louis Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) on Thursday.
Chicago hadn't won two straight since a 2-1 overtime victory over Boston on Feb. 14, 2004 gave it three wins in a row.
The Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303), who finished 2003-04 with four wins in their last 25 games, have won three of four following a four-game skid. Two of those victories, though, have come against the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), who have a league-low seven points and suffered their 10th straight defeat Thursday.
Coach Trent Yawney had no trouble keeping his club's modest streak in perspective.
"It's only two wins in a row," he said. "We've got a long ways to go. (The Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318)) don't want to keep going the way they're going so it was a good test for our team and our guys answered the bell."
Chicago has benefitted from the improved play of goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66791), who made 31 saves Thursday.
The veteran netminder was signed to a big free-agent deal this summer after helping Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup in 2003-04, but has gotten off to a rocky start.
Like his teammates though, Khabibulin has played better lately, allowing three goals while winning his last two starts. He posted a 4.98 goals-against average in losing his five previous games.
Khabibulin is 13-5-1 with a 2.39 GAA and five shutouts in his career against the Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307).
Los Angeles opened a four-game trip with a 5-4 overtime loss to Detroit on Wednesday.
Alexander Frolov (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/105512) had a goal and an assist for the Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307), who have gained at least a point in four of their last five road games (3-1-1).
Los Angeles outshot Detroit 41-39, the most each team has allowed in a game this season.
"A lot of scoring chances," Los Angeles defenseman Aaron Miller (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66512) said. "Not exactly the kind of game we were trying to play, but entertaining. Still, we got a point."
Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) center Jeremy Roenick (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66689) also scored against Detroit, his first goal in 10 games and only his third point in that span.
STANDINGS: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - 21 points, 1st place, Pacific Division. Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - 12 points, 3rd place, 17 PB, Central Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - Pavol Demitra (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/342205), 8 goals; Lubomir Visnovsky (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66523), 13 assists; Demitra and Visnovsky, 19 points; Sean Avery (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109815), 51 PIM. Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Pavel Vorobiev (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343469), 6 goals and 15 points; Vorobiev and Tyler Arnason (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109803), 9 assists; Matthew Barnaby (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66798), 45 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Nov. 9): Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - Power play: 15.8 percent (16 for 101), 20th in NHL. Penalty killing: 85.2 percent (87 for 102), 6th (tied). Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Power play: 14.5 percent (15 for 103), 22nd. Penalty killing: 78.0 percent (96 for 123), 26th (tied).
GOALTENDERS: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - Jason LaBarbera (8-2-1, 0 SO, 2.44 GAA); Mathieu Garon (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109970) (2-3-0, 3.24). Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Khabibulin (5-9-0, 3.69 GAA); Craig Anderson (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343273) (1-1-0, 5.12).
2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307), 3-1-0.
LAST MEETING: Jan. 18, 2004; Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307), 2-1. At Chicago, Frolov scored with 8:26 left as the Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) improved to 6-3-1 in their last 10 games against the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303).
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - 3-2-1 on the road; Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - 3-3-0 at home.
TIME: Friday, 8:30 p.m. EST.
The Chicago Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) look to put together three straight wins for the first time this season when they host the first-place Los Angeles Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307).
The Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) posted consecutive wins for the first time in 41 games dating to the 2003-04 season with a 4-2 victory over the struggling St. Louis Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) on Thursday.
Chicago hadn't won two straight since a 2-1 overtime victory over Boston on Feb. 14, 2004 gave it three wins in a row.
The Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303), who finished 2003-04 with four wins in their last 25 games, have won three of four following a four-game skid. Two of those victories, though, have come against the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), who have a league-low seven points and suffered their 10th straight defeat Thursday.
Coach Trent Yawney had no trouble keeping his club's modest streak in perspective.
"It's only two wins in a row," he said. "We've got a long ways to go. (The Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318)) don't want to keep going the way they're going so it was a good test for our team and our guys answered the bell."
Chicago has benefitted from the improved play of goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66791), who made 31 saves Thursday.
The veteran netminder was signed to a big free-agent deal this summer after helping Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup in 2003-04, but has gotten off to a rocky start.
Like his teammates though, Khabibulin has played better lately, allowing three goals while winning his last two starts. He posted a 4.98 goals-against average in losing his five previous games.
Khabibulin is 13-5-1 with a 2.39 GAA and five shutouts in his career against the Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307).
Los Angeles opened a four-game trip with a 5-4 overtime loss to Detroit on Wednesday.
Alexander Frolov (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/105512) had a goal and an assist for the Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307), who have gained at least a point in four of their last five road games (3-1-1).
Los Angeles outshot Detroit 41-39, the most each team has allowed in a game this season.
"A lot of scoring chances," Los Angeles defenseman Aaron Miller (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66512) said. "Not exactly the kind of game we were trying to play, but entertaining. Still, we got a point."
Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) center Jeremy Roenick (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66689) also scored against Detroit, his first goal in 10 games and only his third point in that span.
STANDINGS: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - 21 points, 1st place, Pacific Division. Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - 12 points, 3rd place, 17 PB, Central Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - Pavol Demitra (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/342205), 8 goals; Lubomir Visnovsky (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66523), 13 assists; Demitra and Visnovsky, 19 points; Sean Avery (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109815), 51 PIM. Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Pavel Vorobiev (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343469), 6 goals and 15 points; Vorobiev and Tyler Arnason (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109803), 9 assists; Matthew Barnaby (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66798), 45 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Nov. 9): Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - Power play: 15.8 percent (16 for 101), 20th in NHL. Penalty killing: 85.2 percent (87 for 102), 6th (tied). Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Power play: 14.5 percent (15 for 103), 22nd. Penalty killing: 78.0 percent (96 for 123), 26th (tied).
GOALTENDERS: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - Jason LaBarbera (8-2-1, 0 SO, 2.44 GAA); Mathieu Garon (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109970) (2-3-0, 3.24). Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Khabibulin (5-9-0, 3.69 GAA); Craig Anderson (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343273) (1-1-0, 5.12).
2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307), 3-1-0.
LAST MEETING: Jan. 18, 2004; Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307), 2-1. At Chicago, Frolov scored with 8:26 left as the Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) improved to 6-3-1 in their last 10 games against the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303).
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Kings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66307) - 3-2-1 on the road; Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - 3-3-0 at home.