Wheels up: Ducks, Kings head to Europe

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

It’s not quite like the Santa Tracker but the Ducks managed to provide an update or two during their long journey to Finland on Saturday.

Their plane didn’t have Wi-Fi, but Bobby Ryan and Andrew Gordon managed to send along a few thoughts when the charter flight stopped to refuel in Newark, N.J. Ryan disclosed that he downloaded 43 TV shows for possible viewing.

The Ducks were scheduled to arrive around midnight (PST), and the Kings were scheduled to leave Las Vegas for Europe shortly after their 4-1 loss to the Avalanche on Saturday night. Their lone goal came from Simon Gagne on a power play in the third period.

Earlier, the anticipated roster move came down as the Kings sent defensemen Thomas Hickey and Andrew

Campbell and left wing Dwight King to their minor-league affiliate in Manchester. Kings Coach Terry Murray had foreshadowed one move, more or less, when he said last week that Slava Voynov was ahead of Hickey.

Ducks defenseman Matt Smaby will require surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, an injury he suffered a week ago at Vancouver. He could be out two to three months. As expected, Patrick Maroon cleared waivers and was practicing with the team’s affiliate in Syracuse on Saturday.

-- Lisa Dillman