KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
1.28.99 On Thursday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that center Ray Ferraro and left wing Craig Johnson have been activated from injured reserve and have been cleared to play. They are expected to return to the lineup on Friday when the Kings skate against the Washington Capitals at Washington. Ferraro has missed the last eight games after surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. Johnson has missed the last four games with a right rib cage contusion. The Kings also announced that left wing Dan Bylsma has been assigned to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. Friday's game at Washington begins at 4:00 PM PST. It will be televised on a tape-delayed basis on KCAL-TV 9 in the Los Angeles area at 5:30 PM PST.1.24.99 In the 1999 NHL All-Star Game at the Ice Palace in Tampa, Florida, Los Angeles Kings' left wing Luc Robitaille took a pass in the slot from Phoenix Coyotes' forward Jeremy Roenick and beat Buffalo Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek through the 5-hole to give the North American All-Stars a 2-1 lead over the World All-Stars at 10:06 of the first period. Robitaille also contributed an assist on Dallas Stars' forward Mike Modano's goal to open the scoring at 4:09 of the first period. In the second period, Kings' defenseman Rob Blake scored on a wrist shot from near the right face-off dot on a pass from New York Rangers' center Wayne Gretzky. Blake beat Carolina Hurricanes goalie Arturs Irbe through the 5-hole at 14:23. The North American All-Stars defeated the World All-Stars, 8-6. 
1.23.99 A nice start to All-Star weekend at the Ice Palace in Tampa, Florida... In the Heroes of Hockey game on Saturday, Los Angeles Kings' radio color commentator and captain of the gold medal-winning 1998 United States Women's Olympic Hockey Team, Cammi Granato scored the first goal of the game, firing a slapshot from the top of the slot, near the left circle, beating goalie Darren Pang high, just inside the left goal post. Granato played for the Sunbelt Heroes team. Also playing for the Sunbelt Heroes are former Kings Marcel Dionne and Chris Kontos. And speaking of Dionne, he scored the second goal of the game on a wrist shot from right about where Granato scored, beating goalie Don Beaupre. Co-coaching the Sunbelt Heroes was former Kings' head coach Barry "I Couldn't Coach My Way Out of a Paper Bag" Melrose. Co-coaching the Heroes of Hockey team was former Kings' head coach Red Kelly. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. In the skills competition that followed the Heroes game, Kings' defenseman Rob Blake was on the puck relay team that won the event for the North American All-Stars. He also participated in the hardest shot competition. He missed the net on his first shot and registered a 91 mile per hour slap shot on his second attempt. Kings' left wing Luc Robitaille participated in the breakaway competition. He was beaten by Carolina Panthers goalie Arturs Irbe. Kings' defenseman Mattias Norstrom also participated in the breakaway competition. He tried a deke move on Ottawa Senators goalie Ron Tugnutt but never got a shot off. The World squad wound up winning the skills competition, 13-11. One of the nicer moments of the skills competition came when current Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach and former Lightning player John Cullen and NHL referee Paul Stewart came out to center ice to announce that the NHL's "Hockey Fights Against Cancer" campaign has already raised $900,000 in just two months. Cullen and Stewart thanked fans for their support during their fights against the disease. Stewart added, "as a referee, this is one fight I won't blow my whistle on." 1.21.99 A grievous error has been corrected... Immediately following Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils, the Los Angeles Kings announced that left wing Luc Robitaille has been named to the North American team in the 1999 NHL All-Star Game in Tampa, Florida on Sunday. Robitaille, currently ranked third in the NHL in goal scoring with 25 goals this season, became just the 27th NHL player to score 500 goals in his career back on January 7, will replace Detroit Red Wings center Steve Yzerman, who was hit in the face by a puck during the Red Wings game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Yzerman suffered a cut above his right eye and a broken nose. Robitaille, who appeared in six consecutive All-Star games from 1988 through 1993, will be making his seventh appearance in the All-Star Game. And although he was visibly upset about the Kings losing to the Devils, he expressed some excitement about going to Tampa. "I'm happy. It's a privilege to be there," Robitaille said. "A lot of players around the league told me, 'you deserve to go.'" Robitaille, who had made plans to go on a trip with his family during All-Star weekend, was scurrying around the Kings' locker room after the game, packing his equipment to head to Tampa, where he will join teammates Rob Blake (North American squad) and Mattias Norstrom (World squad). "I was gonna go to Las Vegas," Robitaille said. "Now I have to cancel everything." The Kings have not had more than one player representing them in the All-Star game since 1994 when Blake, Wayne Gretzky and Dave Taylor played in the game in New York's Madison Square Garden. The last time Robitaille appeared in the All-Star game was in 1993 at Montreal when he joined Kings' teammates Paul Coffey, Gretzky and Jari Kurri. Kings' head coach Larry Robinson told reporters after the game that it doesn't matter that Robitaille was named to the All-Star game only because Yzerman was injured. "I'm pleased because he should have been there in the first place," Robinson said. 1.20.99 Here's a surprise... On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that defenseman Mattias Norstrom was named to play in the NHL All-Star Game replacing injured defenseman Kenny Jonsson of the New York Islanders. Jonsson is suffering from a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Norstrom, 27, will play for the World squad in Sunday's game. In 44 games this season, Norstrom is second in the NHL in hits with 122. Now if only the NHL would get their act together and get Luc Robitaille onto the North American team... The Kings also announced that winger Craig Johnson has been placed on the injured reserve list retroactive to January 15. Johnson has missed the last two games with a right rib cage contusion. 1.14.99 On Thursday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have activated defenseman Doug Bodger from the injured reserve list and he has been cleared to play in tonight's game when the Kings host the Calgary Flames. Bodger has missed the last six games with a cervical strain/shoulder contusion on December 28 at Phoenix when he was hit from behind by Coyotes' forward Dallas Drake, who was suspended four games for the hit. Going into tonightıs game, the Kings have lost 185 man-games to injury/illness compared to 166 all of last season. 1.12.99 The Los Angeles Kings announced late Tuesday that center Ray Ferraro underwent successful surgery to repair torn cartilege in his right knee. He will miss the next four to six weeks but is expected to recover fully. The Kings also announced that they have re-assigned center Brandon Convery from the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL to Springfield of the AHL. Convery had three goals and seven assists, good for ten points in fourteen games at Long Beach. The Kings also re-assigned defenseman Sean Blanchard from the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL to Springfield. Blanchard, 20, played in 28 games with the Sea Wolves. He scored two goals and tallied fourteen assists (16 points) and had fourteen penalty minutes. Blanchard was the Kings' fourth round selection in the 1997 draft (99th overall). On Tuesday, Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Rob Blake was named to the 1998-99 NHL All Star team representing North America. The game will be played on Sunday, January 24, in Tampa Bay. Television coverage of the All-Star Game will be on Fox at 4:00 PM PST. This will be Blake's second appearance in the All-Star Game. His first was on January 22, 1994, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Kings will host their first Women's Ice Hockey Clinic, featuring Kings radio broadcaster and Olympic Gold Medalist Cammi Granato, tomorrow, Wednesday, January 13, at the Great Western Forum beginning at 6:00 PM PST. The Clinic have feature two 90-minute sessions that will cover basic skills such as stickhandling, passing and shooting, and game-like situations. Granato will give a "chalk talk" from 7:45-8:00 PM. The sessions appear to be rather popular...all sessions are full. For more information on Kings Women's Hockey events, contact Annie Camins of the Kings at (310) 419-3815. 1.8.99 The Los Angeles Kings announced on Friday that individual tickets for Tip-A-King '99 will go on sale on Wednesday, January 14, 1999, at the Great Western Forum box office and all TicketMaster outlets. Tickets are $75.00, which includes food and drinks. VIP packages are also available. Individual VIP Tickets and general admission tickets are limited to four per household. This the Kings' annual charity event, to be held at The Hangar at Merv Griffin Productions in Santa Monica, where fans "tip" the Kings' players and coaches $1.00 for an autograph and $2.00 for a photograph. All proceeds benefit the Kings' Care Foundation. VIP packages range from $2,500 to $5,000 per package, which includes ten invitations to a VIP pre-event buffet dinner beginning at 4:00 PM. Catering for the VIP party will be provided by Celestino Drago's restaurants. Fans will also get the chance to bid on sports and entertainment memorabilia and packages in both a silent and live auction. This year's auction will feature signed jerseys from each Kings' player, signed sticks and other game-used items from various players throughout the National Hockey League. The auction will also feature a one-of-a-kind Los Angeles Kings' Harley Davidson motorcycle, which has been generously donated by long-time Kings season ticket holder Ron Brack. The motorcycle is valued at approximately $25,000.auction will also feature For more information, please call the Kings' Community Development Department at (213) 996-0118. 1.6.99 Here we go again, folks... On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that center Ray Ferraro suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee during Tuesday's game at Edmonton. Ferraro underwent an MRI exam today and it revealed the injury. Ferraro will undergo surgery to repair the damage on Tuesday, January 12, 1999, at Centinela Hospital Medical Center. The surgery will be performed by Kings' team physican Dr. Ronald Kvitne of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Ferraro is expected to miss the next four to six weeks. Makes you wonder if this team is EVER going to be completely healthy... 1.5.99 Late Monday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that defenseman Doug Bodger has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to December 29. Bodger suffered a cervical strain/shoulder contusion when he was hit from behind by Coyotes' forward Dallas Drake at Phoenix on December 28. The Kings also announced that wingers Eric Lacroix and Sandy Moger were activated from injured reserve on Monday. Lacroix has missed nine games with a fractured sternum. Moger has missed the last seventeen games with a lower back strain. Now for some good news... Mary Beth Bylsma, wife of Kings' left wing Dan Bylsma, gave birth to a seven-pound, eight-ounce boy, Brian Thomas, at 12:37 PM on Saturdayat Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance. Brian is the Bylsma's first child. Lacroix, Moger and Bylsma are expected to make the trip to Edmonton for Tuesday's game against the Oilers. 1.4.99 Late Monday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that left wing Steve McKenna underwent successful sports hernia repair surgery and is expected to miss the next 10-12 weeks. The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Shorr and Kings' team physician Dr. Ronald Kvitne, both from the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic. The surgery was performed at Centinela Hospital Medical Center. McKenna will begin rehabilitation in three weeks and is expected to recover fully. Jim Hodges has more on the injury to Los Angeles Kings' right wing Glen Murray in today' LOS ANGELES TIMES... Kings' defenseman Rob Blake again talked about Murray's importance to the team. "He can't really tell yet how long he's going to be out, and that's the thing that hits hardest," Blake said. "It's a huge loss. He and Luc [Robitaille] have carried this team." But Blake was optimistic about his teammate's return but added that the rest of the team has to make up for his loss. "It was kind of a freak play, and he will be back this season," Blake said. "It's not like it's season-ending. He'll be back for the stretch run and the playoffs." "We're not deep enough to fill all those roles [with one person]," Blake added. "But some people will have to step up." Injury Update... Kings' winger Eric Lacroix (fractured sternum) is skating again. Defenseman Doug Bodger skated on Sunday, but is not expected to make the trip to Edmonton for Tuesday's game. 1.3.99 SPORTSTICKER is reporting this afternoon that Los Angeles Kings' right wing Glen Murray, who suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee, will not require surgery and will begin rehabilitation immediately. Going into Saturday's game against Colorado, the Kings had lost 160 man-games to injuries this season compared to just 47 man-games through the same number of games in 1997-98. The Los Angeles Kings announced on Sunday that right wing Glen Murray suffered a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee in the first period of Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche. Murray will be out eight to ten weeks. A preliminary report received during Saturday's game stated that Murray had a severely sprained MCL. Murray was taken to Centinela Hospital Medical Center where x-rays and an MRI were performed. X-rays were negative, but the MRI revealed the tear. Murray will be placed on injured reserve on Monday. Winger Steve McKenna, who will undergo abdominal surgery on Monday, will be out ten to twelve weeks. As most of you probably know by now, Los Angeles Kings' right wing Glen Murray was injured at the 12:48 mark of the first period during Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche (stayed for my game report, to be posted later...I'll have more details in that report). Preliminary reports said that Murray suffered a severely sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. He was taken to Centinela Hospital Medical Center for X-rays and an MRI. The report from the hospital on the exact nature of the injury and an estimate on how long Murray will be out of the lineup was not available after the game but should be available sometime today. Other estimates came from Kings' players and media relations staff in the locker room after the game. They ranged from 6-8 weeks to 8-12 weeks. In short, no one knew for sure. However, the ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP) reported late Saturday that Murray would be out 6-10 weeks. I don't know if AP was able to get the report from the hospital, however. SPORTSTICKER reported late Saturday that Murray was out indefinitely. In any case, as soon as I hear the definitive word, you'll see it here. In other injury-related news... Defenseman Steve Duchesne, who was hit by a deflected puck on Saturday night, lost two teeth. Winger Vladimir Tsyplakov suffered a cut on the left side of his face in the first period. Winger Steve McKenna, who has been on injured reserve with an abdominal strain, will undergo abdominal surgery on Monday. There was no word on how long he is expected to be out of the lineup.
