KINGS NOTEBOOK: OFF SHELF, BACK AT IT.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 - These are desperate times for the Kings, and their task of climbing back into the Western Conference playoff race is complicated by the need to assimilate injured players back into the lineup. Bryan Smolinski Bryan Smolinski (b. December 27 1971 in Toledo, Ohio) is an American ice hockey centre currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL. Playing career Smolinski grew up in suburban Northwest Ohio and played for the Michigan State Spartans. is expected to play Wednesday against the Mighty Ducks
Mighty Ducks is a half-hour Disney animated series aired on ABC and The Disney Afternoon in the fall of 1996. Twenty-six episodes total were produced. , and Aaron Miller Aaron Miller (born August 11, 1971 in Buffalo, New York) is a professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. Playing career Miller was drafted in the 5th round, 88th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. hopes to be back Thursday or Saturday, but coach Andy Murray knows the Kings can't afford to wait for injured players to play their way back into game shape. The Kings need help now, so even though Miller (broken foot) has been out almost six weeks and Smolinski (eye) more than three, they will be counted on to contribute immediately. ``It's probably best for them to play and get right into a rhythm, but are they totally ready for that?'' Murray said. ``You're never quite sure. It's a tough question to have to deal with as a coach, how much to play those guys, but at this point we have to find out. ``We'll probably use them as much as we can and adjust from there. There's no question that when you first come back, there's an adjustment period to get your game going.'' But in the next breath, Murray said that the Kings must play with a sense of desperation and not wait to get healthy. The Kings entered Monday in 10th place in the conference, four points behind the eighth-place Mighty Ducks but also just four points ahead of last-place Nashville. ``We don't look at how close we are to last place,'' Murray said, ``because it doesn't matter if you're last or ninth, the only thing that matters is getting to eighth. ``In two games, we could be right back into it. That's the way we have to look at it in this business. We knew before the year that it was going to be a battle, even with a healthy team.'' --Injury report: Ian Laperriere Ian Laperrière (born January 19, 1974 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is an ice hockey player in the NHL. He played in the QMJHL 1990-1993 and was drafted by the St. Louis Blues of the NHL in the 7th round and pick number 158 in the 1992 draft. , who missed the past two games with a sore back, should play Wednesday. Mathieu Schneider didn't skate in Monday's practice because of a lingering groin injury but is expected to play. The news isn't so good for Eric Belanger (back strain) and Lubomir Visnovsky (knee sprain sprain, stretching or wrenching of the ligaments and tendons of a joint, often with rupture of the tissues but without dislocation. Sprains occur most commonly at the ankle, knee, or wrist joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in moving the involved joint. ), both of whom could miss the Kings' next three games, and Kip Brennan (knee) is expected to be out beyond that. Until Miller returns, the Kings are down to six defensemen, which has led them to consider recalling a defenseman from their American Hockey League
Murray intended to give goalie Felix Potvin the day off Monday after Potvin was slightly injured by a shot in Saturday's game, but Potvin insisted on practicing. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: BRYAN SMOLINSKI Center is one of two injured Kings expected back this week. |
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