"I felt like last year I was definitely good at times and there were times that I struggled, like everyone else. The biggest thing between a good goalie in this league and a great goalie is consistency. Last year was one of those up-and-down years and I just need to find that consistency at this level.
"I know I can do it. The atmosphere around here right now is just so much better than what we had last year. It's more exciting, more exuberant. Everyone's young and we all have something to prove, I think."
LaBarbera may have more to prove than anyone in camp.
He had a four-game winning streak in October but lost six straight in December, though his teammates scored more than two goals in his support only once during that skid.
He was 7-5-1 in January but suffered an apparent groin injury on Feb. 18. He underwent hernia surgery in March and didn't play again, finishing with a record of 17-23-2, a goals-against average of 3.00 and save percentage of .910.
While he was recovering, first in El Segundo and later at home in Calgary, he began his new diet.
"It made a world of difference. I felt so much better," he said. "I didn't feel bloated and lethargic."
Having endured a couple of bad seasons here -- and a season spent in the minors because of arcane waiver rules -- LaBarbera hopes he will be here when better days arrive.
He believes that will happen soon -- and it would have to, because he's in the last year of his contract. He can accelerate the process if he has a solid season.
"There's so much talent in this room it's so ridiculous," he said, glancing at his teammates in the Kings' locker room.
"The biggest thing for me is I just want to be consistent this year and be that guy that I have been my whole life, which is being a reliable rock back there."
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Helene Elliott can be reached at helene.elliott@latimes.com.
To read previous columns by Elliott, go to latimes.com/elliott.
