GDT: Nashville @ Los Angeles - 11/15/08 - 7:30 PM

[johnjm22]

.


Los Angeles Kings
(7-6-2, 16 pts)

VS.



Nashville Predators
(8-7-1, 17 pts)


7:30PM (PST) @ Staples Center Los Angeles, CA

TV Broadcast: FSN-W (Home), FS-TN (AWAY)
Radio Broadcast: KTLK 1150 AM, XM 205

GAME PREIVEW Jason LaBarbera may be the more experienced goaltender, but Erik Ersberg has been the better one recently for the Los Angeles Kings. Whoever gets the start on Saturday night will try to lead the Kings to their first five-game winning streak in nearly three years as they meet the resurgent Nashville Predators at Staples Center. Coming off a career-best 17 wins in his third full season, LaBarbera has stumbled so far in 2008-09 by going 3-5-1 with a 3.01 goals-against average. He was pulled after allowing three goals in the first 12:48 of a 5-4 loss to Nashville on Oct. 25, and has lost three straight starts after that. Ersberg, who had a 2.48 GAA in 14 games as a rookie with Los Angeles last season, stopped 10 of 12 shots the rest of the way during last month's loss to the Predators. He's started each game in the Kings' current run, allowing only nine goals, and won his only career appearance against Nashville late last season. Ersberg turned aside 19 shots in the Kings' 3-2 home shootout win over Dallas on Tuesday. Two nights later, he had 26 saves as the Los Angeles capped a home-and-home sweep of the Stars by the same score. "On the road in general it's tough," said Los Angeles' Dustin Brown, tied with Jarret Stoll for the team lead with six goals. "We came in here and grinded it out." Under new coach Terry Murray, Los Angeles (7-6-2) has already matched its longest winning streak from 2007-08, when they failed to make the playoffs for the fifth straight year. The Kings haven't had a five-game run since Feb. 11-March 7, 2006. After being blanked twice while losing three straight during their season-high six-game road trip, the Predators (8-7-1) can head home with a .500 mark on the swing. Dan Hamhuis' goal 2:17 into overtime on Friday lifted Nashville to its second straight triumph, 4-3 over the Ducks. It was only the Predators' fourth win in 19 games at Anaheim. "I think we've found out a lot about ourselves in the last few days," Hamhuis said. "We squeaked one out against San Jose when we didn't deserve to win, then we had a closed-door meeting yesterday because we were very disappointed in the way we'd been playing as a team. "I think that really helped us. Tonight we played a much better team game." Dan Ellis followed up a franchise-best 54-save performance in an overtime win over the Sharks on Tuesday by stopping 32 shots against the Ducks. Ellis is 3-1-0 with a 3.27 GAA in four career starts versus Los Angeles, but backup Pekka Rinne could make his first start since Nov. 1. The rookie, though, hasn't made it past the first period in his two road starts this season - he gave up three goals in the first 14:26 of a 5-3 loss to Columbus on Oct. 17, and was tagged for four goals in less than 12 minutes during a 7-6 loss to Calgary on Nov. 6. Rinne has never faced the Kings. The Kings and Preds each posted decisive shutout victories in Los Angeles last season. On Oct. 23, 2007, LaBarbera stopped 17 shots in the Kings' 6-0 win. Nashville returned the favor on Jan. 8 as Chris Mason, currently a backup in St. Louis, had 28 saves in the 7-0 rout.

INJURIES LOS ANGELES Marc-Andre Cliche (Separated shoulder on 10/06/08) IR Richard Clune (Chest injury on 10/06/08) IR Jack Johnson (Shoulder injury on 10/13/08) IRR NASHVILLE Jed Ortmeyer (Knee surgery recovery, blood clot leg on 09/20/08) IR Steve Sullivan (Back surgery on 09/20/08) IR

RECENT MEETINGS 10/25/08 - Kings @ Predators 5-4 (Predators win) 03/13/08 - Kings @ Predators 4-1 (Kings win) 01/08/08 - Predators @ Kings 7-0 (Predators win) 12/22/07 - Kings @ Predators 4-3 (Predators win) 10/23/07 - Predators @ Kings 6-0 (Kings win) *Kings All-Time Record against Nashville (20-13-4)

LEADING SCORERS Forwards Kopitar, LA - 13 points (2 G, 11 A, -2) Dumont, NSH - 18 points (3 G, 15 A, +2) Defensemen Quincey, LA - 7 points (2 G, 5 A, +0) Weber, NSH - 17 points (7 G, 10 A, +8)

PROBABLE STARTERS Ersberg, LA - 7 GP Record: 4-1-1 GAA 1.94 SV% .908 Rinne, NSH - 4 GP Record: 2-0-0 GAA 3.77 SV% .861

TEAM STATS GAA LA – 2.60 (10th in NHL) NSH – 3.44 (T-27th in NHL) Avg. Goals LA – 2.67 (20th in NHL) NSH – 3.12 (T-7th in NHL) Power Play % LA – 18.3 (15th in NHL) NSH – 16.0 (T-22nd in NHL) Penalty Kill % LA – 86.4 (5th in NHL) NSH – 77.9 (24th in NHL)

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

[not tellin*]

With the return of the fires up here in sylmar we are again being told to prepare to evacuate. Hopefully I can see through the smoke enough to see the score on the tv.

SOS

[Chruceg]

one ... two ... three ... four ... FIVE!!!!!

[Captain Ron]

Nashville played a tough game against Anaheim last night and might not have that much energy in their reserves....The Kings need to take advantage of that and need to hit them hard and often.

[br3ds0x]

Finally going to be able to make it out to a game. Here's to #5

[LAX attack*]

WE need this win. We have games in hand, they are above us. We need to leapfrog ahead of them

[kingpest19]

Originally Posted by icyfur

With the return of the fires up here in sylmar we are again being told to prepare to evacuate. Hopefully I can see through the smoke enough to see the score on the tv.

SOS

With talk of rolling blackouts because of the fire good luck

[JPFT]

Go Kings Go!!!!

[Buddy The Elf]

Originally Posted by Captain Ron

Nashville played a tough game against Anaheim last night and might not have that much energy in their reserves....The Kings need to take advantage of that and need to hit them hard and often.

Concur completely. They need to come out skate and hit hard, get the puck deep and forecheck. The Kings always seem to have a tough time against Nashville and they already were beat by them once this season. Nashville just beat the Ducks and Sharks so they seem to be playing well (didn't see either game). If Rinne starts, they better pepper him early and often.

Go Kings!!

[taz346]

Ellis looked pretty solid in goal last nite. If he's in there again tonite, the Kings will need to do a lot of shooting and keep the pressure on.

[sueroe]

Originally Posted by drivelikejoewho

Concur completely. They need to come out skate and hit hard, get the puck deep and forecheck. The Kings always seem to have a tough time against Nashville and they already were beat by them once this season. Nashville just beat the Ducks and Sharks so they seem to be playing well (didn't see either game). If Rinne starts, they better pepper him early and often.

Go Kings!!

I watched the game last night and they looked pretty good. They talked about the Sharks game where the preds did not play so well but Ellis made 54 saves on 57 shots on net. I saw some highlights and he was just riddled with pucks. so...either way the team or the goalie can do it for them.

[Cutty Sarkn3ss*]

Turn up the heat boys!

GO Kings!

[riznat]

Originally Posted by Cutty Sarkn3ss

Turn up the heat boys!

GO Kings!

With all the fires burning the last thing we need is heat!

I'm going with "Bring the Reign"

Go Kings!

[not tellin*]

Originally Posted by Cutty Sarkn3ss

Turn up the heat boys!

GO Kings!

Originally Posted by riznat

With all the fires burning the last thing we need is heat!

I'm going with "Bring the Reign"

Go Kings!

Shouldn't you guys be somewhere, like up at my house drinking and helping with the hot spots? Pick up adevandry on the way.

[riznat]

Originally Posted by icyfur

Shouldn't you guys be somewhere, like up at my house drinking and helping with the hot spots? Pick up adevandry on the way.

I think i was 186'd from that house

[not tellin*]

Originally Posted by riznat

I think i was 186'd from that house

is that some sort of penial code? if so, you're in.

r u kidding me? i got one lagunitas maximus left so unless you show up with some URINATION then u might be 186'd.

[DIEHARD the King fan]

Originally Posted by riznat

I think i was 186'd from that house

Originally Posted by icyfur

is that some sort of penial code? if so, you're in.

r u kidding me? i got one lagunitas maximus left so unless you show up with some URINATION then u might be 186'd.

You can be 86'd (dumped) or 187'd (murdered) but I dont think you can be 186'd unless you were prosecuted for "profiteering" from a organized criminal enterprise.

{186. This act may be cited as the "California Control of Profits of Organized Crime Act."}

Icyfur, I know you may be close to the fires, and its nice that you are inviting people over to watch the game and help out if the fire gets to close, but I think you may want to use something a bit, well, more powerful, than simply URINATION on those fires.

[Telos]

We need to light this goalie up and get the three goal jump this time. Kopitar needs to end his goal-scoring slump and Doughty should have a stellar night as usual. Kings win 5-2. GO KINGS!

[kingsholygrail]

Will be there. Go Kings!!

[xZOMBIExNIGHTMAREx]

i dread when they HAVE to rest ersberg. but for now, he's starting, which is good.

[LAX attack*]

Originally Posted by xZOMBIExNIGHTMAREx

i dread when they HAVE to rest ersberg. but for now, he's starting, which is good.

I think Labarbera can be effective if he's used properly... that is sitting on the bench for 60-70 games a year

[Malice430]

can someone explain to me why the Ducks get a pre-game show and the Kings dont? im getting sick of watching the Dustin Brown/Jack Johnson life story shows before each game.

[Malice430]

anyone alse gettin no audio from bob and jim but getting audio from the arena?

[LAX attack*]

Originally Posted by Malice430

can someone explain to me why the Ducks get a pre-game show and the Kings dont? im getting sick of watching the Dustin Brown/Jack Johnson life story shows before each game.

I can never get sick of hearing Jack's mom say

"Jack Mother****ing Johnson"

[Malice430]

hmm no announcer audio. itll be just like being at the arena