FOR WORST, KINGS LOOK BETTER NHL: L.A., WHICH HAS LEAST POINTS IN LEAGUE, CONTINUES IMPROVED PLAY WITH VICTORY. KINGS 6, CALGARY 3.

Byline: Matthew Kredell

Staff Writer

A glance at the standings confirms the Kings remain the worst team in the NHL. But anyone watching them play the past few weeks might be tempted to double-check.

Nothing the Kings are doing on the ice lately makes them look like a last-place team.

Alexander Frolov had three assists Friday to help the Kings to a 6-3 victory over Calgary in front of 18,118 at Staples Center.

Though they are 25-32-3 on the season, the Kings have 10wins and an overtime loss for 21 points in their past 16 games.

"Obviously we're disappointed about where we are in the standings, but we can't look at it like that," said Derek Armstrong, who had a goal and two assists. "We're a young team and the most important thing is to continue to grow. We've been taking steps forward, and I think that's what is most important."

Returning from an encouraging eight-game road trip through the East Coast in which they went 4-3-1, the Kings dominated a Calgary team that entered the day holding the sixth playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Flames (29-21-8) had outscored the Kings 16-8 in three previous games this season, all Calgary victories. Spurred on by an infusion of youth, this Kings team isn't the same one the Flames faced before.

Two of the Kings' first three goals came from rookies who made their NHL debut in the last month. Brian Boyle took a pass over the middle from Frolov, bobbled it momentarily but recovered and went top shelf to give the Kings a 2-1 lead six minutes into the game. That gave the center four goals in his first seven games in the league.

Less than three minutes later, Teddy Purcell scored his first NHL goal on a one-timer in front off a pass from Kyle Calder coming around the net. It was Purcell's sixth NHL game.

"It's a fun team right now, especially with our younger forwards coming in and contributing the way that they are," Kings coach Marc Crawford said. "Some of the play from our younger people -- especially Boyle and Purcell -- was special, and maybe it's pushing some other guys."

Purcell was sleeping in Manchester, N.H., on Thursday night when he got a text from Kings assistant general manager Ron Hextall to be prepared because Purcell might be called up in the morning.

Then came a phone call at 6:30 a.m., telling him to get to the airport. Purcell was an emergency call-up because Kings forward Michael Cammalleri was out with flu-like symptoms. The team already was thin at forward with injuries to Ladislav Nagy and Scott Thornton.

Patrick O'Sullivan sparked the Kings with a shorthanded goal as the team began pulling away early in the second period. He stole the puck near the blue line in his own zone and raced out with Michal Handzus, who passed it back to O'Sullivan for the goal.

Armstrong put the game away a few minutes later off a pass from Frolov. It was Armstr fifth goal in 15 games after struggling to start the season.

Anze Kopitar added his 25th goal, tying Dustin Brown for the team lead, to give the Kings a 6-2 lead entering the final period.

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Photo:

The Kings' Alexander Frolov, left, and Calgary left wing Kristian Huselius battle for the puck during Friday's game at Staples Center.

Mark J. Terrill/The Associated Press