Vegas
12-08-2005, 06:24 PM
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The slumping Los Angeles Kings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=los) hope that a return to Staples Center will help snap their offensive woes when they host the Carolina Hurricanes (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=car) on Thursday.
Since posting a 6-3 triumph over the St. Louis Blues (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=stl) on November 22, the Kings have dropped five of their last seven games, tallying just 15 times over that stretch.
Los Angeles ended a four-game skid and capped its four-game road trip with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=tor) on Tuesday.
Dustin Brown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3351) scored both goals for the Kings, who got a brilliant performance from Mathieu Garon (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1968). The 27-year-old netminder stopped a season-high 36 shots and notched his fifth win in his last seven appearances.
Despite Garon's recent strong play, Los Angeles has struggled over the last two weeks due largely in part to an ineffective offense.
The Kings, who are 10-4-0 at home this season, will look to end their recent doldrums Thursday when they host a Hurricanes squad which will be carrying some momentum from a convincing 6-2 victory over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Tuesday.
Kevyn Adams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1671) recorded his second career hat trick and Craig Adams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2475) and captain Rod Brind'Amour (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=45) supplied three assists apiece for Carolina, which improved to 2-1-1 on its six-game road trip.
Since posting a 6-3 triumph over the St. Louis Blues (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=stl) on November 22, the Kings have dropped five of their last seven games, tallying just 15 times over that stretch.
Los Angeles ended a four-game skid and capped its four-game road trip with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=tor) on Tuesday.
Dustin Brown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3351) scored both goals for the Kings, who got a brilliant performance from Mathieu Garon (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1968). The 27-year-old netminder stopped a season-high 36 shots and notched his fifth win in his last seven appearances.
Despite Garon's recent strong play, Los Angeles has struggled over the last two weeks due largely in part to an ineffective offense.
The Kings, who are 10-4-0 at home this season, will look to end their recent doldrums Thursday when they host a Hurricanes squad which will be carrying some momentum from a convincing 6-2 victory over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Tuesday.
Kevyn Adams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1671) recorded his second career hat trick and Craig Adams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2475) and captain Rod Brind'Amour (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=45) supplied three assists apiece for Carolina, which improved to 2-1-1 on its six-game road trip.