KINGS UPDATE: KINGS: NORSTROM WEARING `C' WELL.Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Kings have reached the midpoint mid·point n. 1. Mathematics The point of a line segment or curvilinear arc that divides it into two parts of the same length. 2. A position midway between two extremes. of their season and Mattias Norstrom's first year as captain. The club is at .500 (16-15-7-2) heading into tonight's game against the New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Devils have won the Stanley Cup three times, in 1995, 2000, and 2003. . His teammates say Norstrom grades out much higher than that. ``We struggled at times this season but not from lack of effort and he knew that,'' 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. said. ``He kept things positive on the team, always thinking we would turn it around.'' Like his predecessor and former defensemate Rob Blake For other persons of the same name, see Robert Blake. Robert Bowlby "Rob" Blake (born December 10 1969, in Simcoe, Ontario) is a professional ice hockey defenceman in the NHL, playing for the Los Angeles Kings where he is the captain. , Norstrom is not a loud presence in the Kings' dressing room. Norstrom, who turned 30 last Wednesday, is an eight-year veteran. He says he never has been much on speeches and to start now would be phony. ``The job has been great,'' he said. ``But it is more handing out information than yelling at other players. The other guys know my personality and I would lose all credibility if I suddenly decided to change the way I am. ``My approach is that when I say something, I want them to know it comes from Matty Norstrom, not just someone wearing the `C.' '' Norstrom struggled along with the club early this season. During one three-game stretch, he was a minus-eight. But that number has shrunk recently. He was a plus-two Saturday in the Kings' 3-0 victory over the Islanders and now is a minus-five. During the bad stretch, Murray was critical of Norstrom's stickhandling in the Kings zone. Norstrom made the adjustments. In the third period against the Islanders, Norstrom raced the length of the ice with the puck, then fed Eric Belanger Éric Bélanger (born December 16, 1977 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) is a Canadian professional hockey centre. He currently plays for the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild. for the eventual game-winning goal. ``If someone is going to say something about the way I'm playing, believe me, I am already working on the adjustments,'' he said. ``No one is harder on me than me.'' The Kings turned to Norstrom because of the respect he has in the league and on the team. Every year, Norstrom leads the Kings in hits and receives the Kings' highest marks on preseason physical-fitness exams. On defense he is responsible for shutting down the opponent's top offensive line. Last Wednesday, that included Florida's Pavel Bure Pavel Vladimirovich Bure (Russian: Павел Владимирович Буре , who had two shots and no goals in a 3-1 Kings victory. In Saturday's win over the Islanders, Norstrom was in charge of defending top center Alexei Yashin Alexei Valeryevich Yashin (Russian: Алексей Валерьевич Яшин, Aleksej Valer'jevič Jašin and Michael Peca Michael Anthony Peca (born March 26, 1974 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward in the National Hockey League who has played for the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. . The two had a combined two shots in the final two periods. In the dressing room, Murray also has given Norstrom a good support system with four veteran alternate captains. Many thought Laperriere was the Kings' de facto [Latin, In fact.] In fact, in deed, actually. This phrase is used to characterize an officer, a government, a past action, or a state of affairs that must be accepted for all practical purposes, but is illegal or illegitimate. captain for the final two months last season after Blake was traded to the Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1996 and 2001. . Kelly Buchberger was a captain in Edmonton and Atlanta, and Mathieu Schneider and Bryan Smolinski are coming off outstanding offensive seasons. ``I've known a lot of captains that have not been top offensive players,'' Murray said. ``Matty works for everything he gets. Every night he is facing the best players in the world.'' KINGS vs. NEW JERSEY Time: 4:30 p.m., at Continental Airlines Arena. TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 1110-AM. Matchup: The Kings continue their five-game trip tonight in New Jersey. The Devils (18-15-5-2) have struggled just one year after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals against Colorado. But they have won three of their past four, including a 2-1 victory Saturday night against Southeast Division-leading Carolina. Leading scorer Patrik Elias (infected index finger) and captain Scott Stevens (groin) were sidelined, but both are expected to play. - Matt McHale CAPTION(S): box Box: KINGS vs. NEW JERSEY (see text) |
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