Los Angeles at New York 7pm Msg+

New York Islander Fan Central | 2/10/2009 01:00:00 PM | | | |
LA Daily News: Has full stats, lineups and preview of the Kings.

Updated Player Pos Injury Expected Return
02/03/09 Marc-Andre Cliche RW Shoulder IR. Out until at least late February
02/02/09 Denis Gauthier D Suspension. Eligible to return Feb. 14
02/08/09 Oscar Moller RW Clavicle IR. Expected to return at N.Y.
02/05/09 Tom Preissing D Dizziness Out indefinitely

Los Angeles Daily News: Rich Hammon's blog coverage from Monday indicates head coach Terry Murray is still on the fence about whether to put Oscar Moller back in the lineup for the reason that came up here the other day. Murray is happy with the way things are going and doesn't want to disrupt the rhythm. He said he will make a decision Monday night after discussing it with his coaches.

-- Jonathan Quick will again start in goal. Murray said he hasn't seen anything to indicate that Quick is tired or wearing down.

-- There's a bit of a flu bug running through some of the Kings. Murray said Drew Doughty was quite ill before Saturday's game but still played, and a few other guys have symptoms. It's one of the reasons Murray did not have the team practice Sunday.

-- Murray said he talked to the team, and will do so again todayy about not having a letdown in the final game of the trip, against a team that (at least in the standings) looks much less formidable than some of the teams the Kings have already defeated.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Looks like LA Times is going AP only so LA Daily News is the paper of record for the team on the trip.

The Kings are 3-1 on this road trip -- 6-1 in their last seven and, with a 23-21-7 record, they're two games over .500 for the first time this season with a hot goaltender who just won player of the week honors and some young talent that can produce.

For the Islanders I guess the question of the day is MacDonald or Danis and if Mark Streit returns or they give him more time.

Losing 1-0 and 3-2 is not about poor defense so far.

Between the flu for the Kings and a possible letdown with them heading straight home afterward it may be hard Los Angeles to avoid a letdown.

Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Alexander Frolov, Patrick O'Sullivan, Stoll make up a nice core with Qunicey and Doughty.

Updated:
Newsday: Mr Logan reports Nate Thompson will be out four-six weeks with a shoulder injury while head coach Scott Gordon discusses his faceoff ability. Kings franchise prospect Drew Doughty has a few words on Jonathan Tavares vs Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman.

Yann Danis is expected to start in goal for New York.

Point Blank: Mr Botta speculates why
Jon Sim would play over Jeff Tambellini and reports Mark Streit is out which Mr Logan did not report.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Sim did not play with Thompson out in Florida, not sure what changes besides the club lost and it's time to get Tambellini/Sim minutes but not at Bergenheim's expense on left wing.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports in his Sound Tigers blog forward Jason Pitton will miss the rest of the season with shoulder surgery after having his season end last year with a similar injury to his other shoulder.