Royal Lineage

They sound like the makings of a tired bar joke. A Russian, a Slovak and a New Yorker walk into a hockey arena ...

Still, this is a pretty good punch line for the Kings.

Alexander Frolov, the skilled 23-year-old Russian, projects a shy image, yet occasionally offers stinging comment, followed by a got-ya-good smirk.

Pavol Demitra, the high-end free agent, maintains a stoic public demeanor, as if the Slovak national anthem is constantly playing in his head.

Then there's Craig Conroy, the veteran center emerging from anonymity, whose interviews certainly take longer than a New York minute.

In a league that has a United Nations look, the Demitra-Conroy-Frolov connection may be a mere face in the culturally diverse crowd. But they do stand alone, or at least in the top three, in one crucial area: .

In Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza have combined for 46 goals and 115 points. Philadelphia's Peter Forsberg, Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble have 93 points. The Kings' trio, thrown together after the season opener, has combined for 92 points, which includes 36 goals. "Those guys are just playing with so much confidence right now," King center Jeremy Roenick said. "They're getting some great breaks, the puck is bouncing their way at times. But when you work hard, that happens."

Twenty-six players have turned in hat tricks this season; three of them skate on one line. Conroy and Frolov each scored three goals against Columbus on Nov. 13, and Demitra had a three-goal game six days later against Colorado.

The point production may be about all they have in common. Frolov still has a baby-faced look, Demitra a shaved head and Conroy, well, he tends to get bug-eyed when he's on a conversational roll.

So a Russian, a Slovak and a New Yorker walk into a hockey arena

"... and the only one you can understand is the New Yorker," Conroy said. "You don't know what those other guys are saying."

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Conroy's impressive play this season has put him on the Team USA radar. He was added to the list of candidates after Olympic team officials saw Conroy collect three assists and the game-winning goal in a come-from-behind victory over Colorado on Oct. 19.

A year ago, he was so appealing as a free agent that five teams jostled to sign him despite the looming lockout. The Kings won out, giving him a four-year, $12.6-million contract.