KINGS NOTEBOOK: O'SULLIVAN MAKING MOST OF HIS CHANCES.Byline: RICH HAMMOND Rich Hammond Los Angeles Daily News sports writer. Instrumental in bringing the Los Angeles Kings hockey organization closer to the fans. He is the atypical "what a guy" to Kings fans everywhere. Rich Hammond on himself. Staff Writer EL SEGUNDO El Segundo (ĕl sēgŭn`dō), industrial city (1990 pop. 15,223), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1917. Its products include navigation and computer systems, aircraft parts, office machines, telephone apparatus, and -- Patrick O'Sullivan Patrick O'Sullivan can refer to
O'Sullivan, who turns 22 today, floundered in the first month of the season and Kings coach Marc Crawford challenged him to improve his work ethic. The demotion de·mote tr.v. de·mot·ed, de·mot·ing, de·motes To reduce in grade, rank, or status. [de- + (pro)mote. to Manchester could have scarred O'Sullivan, but instead he turned things around. Recalled last week, O'Sullivan scored a goal in each of his first two games, has logged minutes alongside rookie sensation Anze Kopitar on the first line and has received playing time with the power- play unit. ``He's much more committed to playing the game at a NHL level,'' Crawford said Wednesday. ``His ability to stay on the play, to win 1-on-1 puck battles and to position himself to score has been better. ``There was never any question about his ability to score ... but now he's knocking defensemen off the puck, he's supporting the play and he's positioning himself in the offensive zone to get open.'' O'Sullivan scored 47 goals in the AHL AHL American Hockey League AHL Action Half-Life (Half-Life modification) AHL Acyl Homoserine Lactone AHL Aramark Harrison Lodging AHL Acylated Homoserine Lactone AHL Association for the History of Language AHL Architects Hawaii Ltd last season and was the centerpiece of the draft-day trade that sent Pavol Demitra to Minnesota. The Kings believed O'Sullivan would be ready to contribute this season, but he had just onegoal and oneassist in his first 12 games and was sent down. ``I understood that I had to work on some things,'' O'Sullivan said. ``... I didn't want to go down but I was playing half the game down there and I was able to work on some things and do what I was told to do.'' Status report: Goaltender Mathieu Garon (broken finger) might be removed from injured reserve in time for Saturday's game at Florida. ... The Kings might put center Alyn McCauley back on injured reserve. Knee issues cost McCauley the first 38games of this season, and while McCauley can play, Crawford said the knee prevents McCauley from doing his usual conditioning work. rich.hammond@dailynews.com (818) 713-3611 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: O'SULLIVAN |
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