Kings expect to have their hands full against Canucks

My three-game/three-day/three-city trip, which started in Edmonton for the Kings' game Tuesday and continued to Calgary for the Ducks' game Wednesday, will end on a spring-like day in Vancouver with the Kings facing the Canucks at Rogers Arena.

The Canucks assured themselves of the top seed in the West, but the Kings can at least delay Vancouver's clinching of the President's Trophy for the overall point title.

For the Canucks to claim the top seed in the league Thursday, the Philadelphia Flyers will have to lose at home to Atlanta and the Canucks would have to defeat the Kings. If not Thursday, it's sure to happen soon.

"They're a much better hockey team this year. A much more mature hockey team I think, in how they're playing," Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell said of the Canucks, his team for four seasons before he moved south of the border last summer.

Kings end long and winding road trip with 3-2 win over Ducks

Playing the last leg of a 10-game road odyssey that could have broken them, the Kings on Wednesday reasserted themselves into the West playoff picture with a 3-2 victory over the Ducks that lifted them into sixth place in the mad playoff scramble.

A slick backhand backpass by Justin Williams set up light-scoring defenseman Willie Mitchell in the left circle for a slap shot that eluded a screened Curtis McElhinney at 6:45 of the third period and gave the Kings a 6-1-3 record in their season-long stretch of 10 straight games away from Staples Center. On Thursday they return home for the first time since Jan. 26 and will face the Minnesota Wild.

The Ducks played one of the best defensive games they've mustered in a while, banding together in front of McElhinney to help the struggling goalie as he tries to replace the still-ailing Jonas Hiller.

However, McElhinney left two rebounds the Kings turned into goals and the Ducks had no margin for error since they were also without their two top centers. Saku Koivu missed the game because of a sore groin and Ryan Getzlaf was with his wife following the birth of the couple’s son, Ryder James Getzlaf, Wednesday afternoon.

Goaltender Ray Emery, recalled from Syracuse of the American Hockey League Wednesday morning, was in uniform as McElhinney’s backup.

Kings' Ponikarovsky, Mitchell modest about impressive stat

Left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky and defenseman Willie Mitchell returned from injuries in the Kings’ last game, against Columbus on Saturday, and the team’s win — ragged though it was — improved an interesting statistic regarding each player.

The Kings are 17-5-1 with Ponikarovsky in the lineup and 12-4-0 with Mitchell in their lineup, impressive numbers. But both insisted that’s only a coincidence.

“It’s not just because of me,” Ponikarovsky said before the Kings faced the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday at Staples Center. “For sure I always try to bring as much as I can to the game and do whatever it takes to win the game. Sometimes it’s just blocking shots, hits, penalty killing, because it’s a big part of winning the games.”

Mitchell called the record “flattering,” and said teammates had kidded him about it.

“One player or two players aren’t going to be the be-all, end-all. It’s a team,” he said. “Do Poni and I think we can be part of the solution to win? Of course you do. I wouldn’t be playing this game if I didn’t feel that way. But we win or lose as a team and I think no doubt it brings a little more depth to the team and it allows coaches more matchups and pairings. Hopefully it brings some stability.”

Mitchell, who missed 14 games in November and December because of an upper-body injury and, more recently, 11 games because of an injured left knee, said he appreciated being fit and enjoyed being paired with Jack Johnson.

“It felt really good. Playing the right side with Jack, I thought we played really well. We were out for a couple goals against but it was kind of a little bit of miscues by [Jonathan Quick] that he knows about,” Mitchell said.

“That happens. It’s great that we win a game when things like that happen because he’s played so well for us. He’s played extremely well for us. He stole games for us.

“I felt good. I missed it. I haven’t played a lot of games this year. I loved it. I just tried to soak it up and enjoy it because you miss the game when you don’t play. It was a lot of fun just getting out there with teammates and obviously to get back on track after losing a few in a row. Hopefully the wind can kind of get at our backs now and we can make a good push because this is a really good hockey team.”

Check back for more on the game.

--Helene Elliott

Kings expect Ponikarovsky, Mitchell to return Saturday

Left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky and defenseman Willie Mitchell are expected to return to the Kings’ lineup Saturday against Columbus at Staples Center, good news for a team that has been making bad news daily during a five-game losing streak.

Ponikarovsky, who injured an ankle Dec. 26, and Mitchell, who hurt his left knee Dec. 16 in only his second game back after a concussion, had no restrictions in practice Friday at El Segundo and said they’re ready to go. Ponikarovsky will play on the left side with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, back to his natural right-wing position after moving to the left for a while. The second line was also revamped — again — with Marco Sturm on the left, Jarret Stoll at center and Wayne Simmonds on the right.

Coach Terry Murray said he wasn’t sure who will come out of the lineup when Ponikarovsky and Mitchell return, though forward/defenseman Peter Harrold — who was on right wing Thursday — is an obvious candidate to be scratched.

“Today I skated a full practice just to get ready mentally,” Ponikarovsky said. “Physically I was ready, but mentally I have to focus and get back.”

Although Murray was definite in saying Mitchell and Ponikarovsky will return, Mitchell termed it as “a pretty good chance” he will play.

“As long as it doesn’t get worse then it’s fine,” Mitchell said. “You feel like you can do your job and not be a liability to the coaching staff or your teammates because that’s what’s most important.”

There was one hold-your-breath moment involving Mitchell on Friday: the veteran defenseman twisted his knee during a drill and got up slowly, skating in circles for a few moments until he was sure he could continue. He shrugged it off.

“That just happens. Anyone who’s had the injury I had, you tweak it a little bit, it burns for a little while and goes away,” he said. “All the guys who have had similar injuries go through that, so this is part of the program.”

Jonathan Quick will start in goal Saturday for the Kings, who are halfway through an eight-game homestand and have yet to win a game. Murray also said he wants enforcer Kevin Westgarth in the lineup Saturday and again Monday, against Toronto.

Look for more at www.latimes.com/sports
-- Helene Elliott

After one in Detroit: Kings 1, Red Wings 0

The Kings scored the only goal of the first period, despite some flurries by the Red Wings that tested Jonathan Quick.

Alexei Ponikarovsky controlled the puck along the left-wing boards and passed back to the point to Matt Greene, one of many Kings who were born or grew up in Michigan. Greene’s shot rebounded into the slot, where Wayne Simmonds pounced on it, turned, and sent a wrist shot through Jimmy Howard’s pads at 13:27.

The Red Wings had an 11-7 edge in shots, including a slap shot with about a second left that Quick did well to stop.

Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell, playing for the first time since he fractured his left wrist on Nov. 6, looked as if he hadn’t missed a beat. He played eight minutes and five seconds, paired with Jack Johnson. Mitchell played the right side and Johnson — who attended the University of Michigan and spends summers in this area — played the left side.

Oscar Moller, playing his second game since being called up from Manchester of the American Hockey League, played 5:39. He skated alongside Ryan Smyth and Jarret Stoll.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

Helene Elliott, in Detroit

Photo: Wayne Simmonds prepares to collect a rebound and score against Detroit in the first period Monday night. Credit: Jerry S. Mendoza / Associated Press

Kings' morning skate: Mitchell returns, Doughty laughs at Babcock's praise

The news out of the Kings’ skate at Joe Louis Arena — other than learning that Detroit Coach Mike Babcock believes Kings defenseman Drew Doughty has “just been touched by God,” is that defenseman Willie Mitchell will play Monday against Detroit, his first game since he fractured his left hand on Nov. 6.

Mitchell has been practicing with the team for a while and ramped up his intensity the last few days. He will play the right side — which he did on a limited basis while with Vancouver — and Jack Johnson will be on the left. The other pairs will be Rob Scuderi-Doughty and Michigan natives Alec Martinez (Rochester Hills) and Matt Greene (Grand Ledge). Johnson attended the University of Michigan and spends summers in Ann Arbor.

The fourth line will be Kyle Clifford with Trevor Lewis and John Zeiler. Oscar Moller will move up to play with Jarret Stoll and Ryan Smyth.

Coach Terry Murray said Marco Sturm, acquired from Boston on Saturday contingent on passing a physical, is scheduled to join the team in St. Louis but likely wouldn’t play for a few days. So either Murray knows Sturm will pass that physical or is assuming that to be the case.

Getting back to Mitchell, he said he was hoping to return Monday but wasn’t sure that was realistic until a few days ago.

“Last week it started to be the target just because of how it was feeling and what I was capable of doing,” said Mitchell, who shoots left-handed. “I was out there practicing and stuff like that but I really wasn’t comfortable taking shots. The last couple days I started to take slap shots and one-timers and there’s still some pain there but it’s bearable….

“It’s time to get going and hopefully I can just slide back in and find my game where I was playing. I was starting to feel I was starting to fit in with my game and the team and so just slide back in and do the things I can do to help the team.”

Doughty, incidentally, was embarrassed to hear Babcock’s effusive praise.

“I don’t know why he’s saying that,” Doughty said. “He’s a great coach. Playing with him at the Olympics, I learned a lot in a short period of time. He really knows his stuff and you can clearly see that because Detroit’s so good every year.”

The Doughty who Babcock raved about hasn’t been evident a whole lot this season. Doughty has had his moments, but his scoring has declined — especially on the power play, though part of that is due to faulty power-play strategy — and his defensive play has been spotty.

But Doughty disputed the notion that he’s not playing well.

“I think a lot people probably think I’m not having a good year and stuff like that but at the same time I think I’ve grown a lot as a defenseman,” he said. “I got a lot better defensively. I don’t think I’ve been on for too many even-strength goals against this year and I’ve been doing a pretty good job of that.

“Offensively my game is coming around. I’m getting a lot more shots. I think as soon as our power play starts rolling my points will start coming. Obviously it’s frustrating not getting any but if we’re winning and stuff like that I’m not too worried about it. But I definitely got better and I’m just going to get better as the season goes on.”

Murray was amused by Babcock’s comments about Doughty, asking if Babcock had looked at his finger to the Olympic ring that Doughty had helped Canada win.

“There’s a lot of inherent skill there, no question. Whether it comes from God or his parents, I’m not sure,” Murray said. “He’s a very talented young man and I think when he went to the Olympics last year he showed that he’s able to elevate his game to a very high level, play with high skill and high speed with the best players in the world and contribute significantly to that gold medal game in particular.

“We’re excited to have him. Happy to have him. Now we want to get him to that level playing for the L.A. Kings. I think his game has been good recently. The points have not been going up the way we anticipated I suppose at the start of the year. But he’s getting some [defensive] attention this year that comes with [the] territory of being a good hockey player. And to me that’s the conversation I’ve had with Drew, that you’re just going to have to find a way as a hockey player now to play the game with that attention to still get the result that we need as a hockey club.”

A few more notes: Brad Richardson (upper-body injury) did not make the trip. Murray said Richardson was due to see a doctor today in Los Angeles. It must be tough to find those upper-body specialists. Is there an upper-body specialty in medical school?

“It’s a very unique person,” Murray joked.

More from the Kings' game against the Red Wings later at www.latimes.com/sports

Helene Elliott, in Detroit

— Helene Elliot

Photo: Willie Mitchell. Credit: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Kings adjust after injuries to Mitchell, Ponikarovsky

The Kings will place defenseman Willie Mitchell (fractured left wrist) on injured reserve and recall defenseman Jake Muzzin from Manchester of the American Hockey League Tuesday [Updated 2:55 p.m. the Kings made this official]. Left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky (fractured finger) wasn’t placed on IR but that could still happen before their next game, against Dallas on Thursday at Staples Center.

Muzzin was due to arrive in Los Angeles Tuesday night, meaning the Kings had only six defensemen in a lengthy practice session in El Segundo. The pairings were Rob Scuderi-Drew Doughty, Davis Drewiske-Matt Greene, and Jack Johnson-Peter Harrold. Coach Terry Murray said he’d look at the pairings again Wednesday, after Muzzin practices with the team.

Mitchell is expected to be out four to six weeks. Ponikarovsky is projected to miss four weeks’ time. Both were injured during the Kings’ 4-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday, their fourth straight victory and fifth in six games.

“We’re losing two veteran guys who have been in the league for a while and two of the older guys, I guess, on this team,” Doughty said. “It definitely [stinks] to lose them but I know we’re fully confident here that the guys who are going to replace Mitchy and Poni are going to do their jobs just as good as they were.

“We have no doubts we’re going to continue on this roll.”

Doughty also said he welcomes the reunion with Scuderi, who was his partner much of last season. “I thought last year we were really, really good together,” he said. “We were great at shutting down the other team’s offense, and together we know where we’re going to be. In a way I’m going to really miss playing with Mitchy but I’m happy to play with Scuds as well.”

Translations for the uninitiated: Mitchy is Mitchell, Scuds is Scuderi, Poni is Ponikarovsky. Doughty is usually called “Dewey.” There’s also Greener and Quickie and a host of other nicknames, but we’ll get into that another time.

Brad Richardson took Ponikarovsky’s place on the third line, with Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds but Murray said he hadn’t decided who will play on the fourth line. But he said he plans to play Kyle Clifford. (It would be the rugged left wing’s 10th game and would trigger the first year of his entry-level contract.) Clifford, 19, could still be sent back to his junior team after that but a year would be clocked off his contract.

“You make adjustments. It’s a competitive game and when you play hard stuff happens in a game,” said Murray, who had his full team for only two games before Mitchell and Ponikarovsky were hurt. “Injuries happen.”

He also said he’s debating whether to use Brayden Schenn or Trevor Lewis at center on the fourth line. Schenn has played eight games and is in the same position as Clifford as far as playing 10 games. If Schenn stays under the 10-game limit he can go back to juniors without activating the first year of his contract.

Murray said he and General Manager Dean Lombardi would likely discuss Schenn and Clifford Tuesday night, after Lombardi’s scheduled return from general managers’ meetings in Toronto.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports.

-- Helene Elliott

Fractured bones will keep Kings' Willie Mitchell, Alexei Ponikarovsky out a while

The Kings took a double injury hit Monday when they learned that  defenseman Willie Mitchell has a fractured left wrist and left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky (pictured at left) has a fractured finger, injuries that occurred during the team's 4-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday.

Neither is expected to need surgery but both will miss significant playing time. A club spokesman said Mitchell will be out four to six weeks and Ponikarovsky is expected to be out about four weeks.

Mitchell underwent X-rays after the game and no breaks or fractures were found. But  the fracture was detected during an MRI exam on Monday.

The Kings, who did not practice on Monday, did not immediately put either player on injured reserve or call anyone up. If a move takes place it's likely to happen Tuesday. The team will return to the ice for practice at 10 a.m. at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo.

Mitchell had been playing well as a shutdown defenseman and partner for Drew Doughty. He had a goal and five points and a plus-7 defensive rating for the 10-3 Kings.

Ponikarovsky had two goals, four points and a plus-2 rating and had been strong on the defensive end of the game on the left side with Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds.

-- Helene Elliott

Photo credit: Harry How / Getty Images

Kings say Willie Mitchell has no break or fracture

X-rays taken of defenseman Willie Mitchell, who was injured during the Kings' 4-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday night, showed no break or fracture, but he will undergo an MRI exam on Monday, a team spokesman said.

Mitchell, off to a fine start with the Kings, played only two shifts in the second period after suffering what the club called an upper-body injury. It's believed he injured an arm.  Coach Terry Murray said after Saturday's game that he had not seen the play because it happened on the far side of the ice. The X-rays were done after the game.

The Kings, who have won four straight games and five of their last six, don't play again until Thursday, when they face the Dallas Stars at Staples Center. That should give Mitchell some extra time to heal.

Players were involved in the annual Tip-a-King charity event on Sunday and were also given a day off from practice on Monday. Their next scheduled practice is Tuesday at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo.

Between now and the Kings' next game, Murray and General Manager Dean Lombardi will have to decide whether they'll keep rookies Brayden Schenn and Kyle Clifford or return the two 19-year-olds to their respective junior teams. Clifford played his ninth game Saturday, reaching the limit before his contract would kick in. Schenn, scratched the last two games, has played eight games.

Initially it seemed likely that Schenn would stay and Clifford would go back, but Clifford has been playing more lately and earning praise from Murray for his grit and fearlessness. Schenn hasn't been playing and Murray has spoken about Schenn's need to work on the defensive end of his game.

-- Helene Elliott

Photo: Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell squares off with the Lightning's Steve Downie on Thursday. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire

Kings beat Stars, 5-2, but Simmonds has lower-body injury

The eyes of Texas were mostly upon the World Series and the baseball Rangers on Thursday night, which was just as well for the sake of the Dallas Stars. They probably wish no one had seen their 5-2 loss to the Kings at the American Airlines Center in front of a crowd that was, quite optimistically, announced as 11,306.

Dustin Brown scored during a five-on-three power play in the first period, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Wayne Simmonds scored goals nine seconds apart in the second period and Willie Mitchell scored his second career shorthanded goal early in the third when an intended pass deflected off the skate of Dallas defenseman Philip Larsen and past goaltender Kari Lehtonen.

Andrew Raycroft replaced Lehtonen after that goal, but Raycroft had been pulled in favor of an extra skater when Justin Williams scored the Kings' final goal, with 1:41 left in the third.

Those efforts and 30 saves from a sharp Jonathan Quick enabled the Kings (7-3-0) to finish a tough trip with a 3-2 record.

However, Simmonds sustained what a club spokesman said was a lower-body injury and played only one shift in the third period. We'll try to get an update after the game. 

The Kings were to charter back to Los Angeles after the game and will take to the ice at Staples Center on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.

They will not regain the services of defenseman Drew Doughty in that game. Team executives decided to let Doughty, who suffered a concussion Oct. 20, take another few days to rest. His return is now projected for Nov. 4 at home against Tampa Bay.

More after the game at www.latimes.com/sports

-- Helene Elliott, reporting from Dallas

Photo: Kings right wing Wayne Simmonds slides past the goal after scoring against Dallas and Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen in the second period Thursday night. Credit: Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press

Kings' Willie Mitchell: NHL has bigger issues than Rick Rypien grabbing a fan

Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell had an interesting take on the incident in which Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien had a confrontation with a Minnesota Wild fan and drew a six-game suspension. The NHL also imposed a $25,000 fine against the team.

Mitchell, who spent four seasons with the Canucks before signing with the Kings as a free agent last summer, said Rypien is a friend but acknowledged that he crossed a line.

“It’s the fans’ right to cheer and say what they want. They pay for the tickets and they’re in the building,” Mitchell said Friday after the Kings practiced at the Pepsi Center in advance of Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche. “If a fan is throwing something at a player, that’s crossing boundaries. Or spitting or doing something of that nature. I don’t know if that happened.

“But even then the old saying, 'He punched me and I’ve got to punch him back,' you really can’t do that in society today. Regardless of the situation I think that Rick regrets what happened.

“My opinion is that everyone has made a big issue out of this and I think there’s other things that are going on in our game that are much more severe, whether it’s headshots -- and I keep going back to that -- and the lack of action on that. It’s something we’ve seen the NFL start to do and hopefully our league follows suit. The game’s faster, guys are bigger, it would be nice to see if they protected the players a little more.”

Mitchell missed 34 games last season because of a severe concussion and is outspoken about the need to eliminate headshots. He said the length of Rypien’s suspension is about right but questioned why blows to the head are not being punished with lengthy suspensions -- and he has an excellent point.

The NHL has been too inconsistent and lenient in punishing these offenses. Grab a fan’s shirt and you get six games -- and the fan gets a few moments of fame and an offer of tickets and dinner from Commissioner Gary Bettman. Hit an opposing player in the head and you might not get any punishment at all -- certainly rarely more than three games’ penance.

“He didn’t hit the fan. He grabbed the fan and it absolutely warrants a suspension but I think that there’s other things that maybe warrant six games but aren’t getting six games, you know?” Mitchell said.

“There’s more harm done in an elbow to a head or a shoulder to a head than what happened right there, but I do understand absolutely the league needed to do something with Rip.”

And it needs to do more to discourage and severely penalize headshots.

-- Helene Elliott in Denver