Bob Bourne

Visiting Kings had been entertained by the White House on many occasions before, but this one was in town for the day from Los Angeles, not Sweden or someplace. Actually, Bob Bourne was supposed to be elsewhere a week ago Monday, playing the New Jersey Devils, instead of playing the Washington capital. He was supposed to be shooting pucks, not schmoozing with the President at the oval office. At one point he even decided not to go to D.C.

Visiting Kings had been entertained by the White House on many occasions before, but this one was in town for the day from Los Angeles, not Sweden or someplace. Actually, Bob Bourne was supposed to be elsewhere a week ago Monday, playing the New Jersey Devils, instead of playing the Washington capital. He was supposed to be shooting pucks, not schmoozing with the President at the oval office. At one point he even decided not to go to D.C.

The Kings added to their strength at left wing Monday by picking up two players in the National Hockey League waiver draft. The Kings claimed Bob Bourne from the New York Islanders in the first round and Mal Davis from the Buffalo Sabres. Bourne is known as a good penalty killer and, at 6 feet 3 inches and 200 pounds, has the size the Kings are looking for. He is a 12-year veteran and has played on four Stanley Cup championship teams.

Defenseman Rob Blake, who has had more than his share of injuries the last four years, is the only King to have played in all 67 games this season, and he credits his improved workout habits for his durability. "I used to work out and things but during the season, I really didn't do a lot," said Blake, who has played in 82 consecutive games dating to last season. "I kind of relied on talent and playing it out. But I noticed that I was getting injured more when I would get fatigued.

The Kings, winners of two of their last three games, meet the slumping Edmonton Oilers tonight at the Northlands Coliseum. The Oilers, who have fallen three points behind the first-place Calgary Flames in the Smythe Division race, are winless in their last three games, including a 7-5 loss to the Kings last Wednesday night at the Forum. After beating the Oilers, the Kings split a two-game set last weekend against the Flames.

Ron Sutter scored the game-winning goal at 17:15 of the second period as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Washington Capitals, 3-1, Saturday at Philadelphia. With the victory, the Flyers increased their Patrick Division lead over second-place Washington to 11 points, although the Capitals have played three fewer games. Philadelphia was held to four shots in the first period, but Brian Propp gave them a 1-0 lead when he beat Washington goalie Pete Peeters at 17:57.

Faced with the prospect of falling still deeper into the Smythe Division cellar, the Kings put together one of their most determined efforts of the season Saturday night at the Forum. They beat the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2, before a crowd of 11,599. It wasn't the completion of a desired two-game sweep--the Canucks made that an impossibility with a 5-1 victory last Wednesday night at Vancouver--but it sure beat the alternative.

Tim Kerr, returning from a battle with the flu, scored twice Thursday night at Philadelphia to lead the Flyers to a 6-3 victory and end the New York Islanders' domination over them this season. Kerr, who missed four games, broke a 3-3 tie at 8:55 of the third period with his second goal of the game and 41st of the season. It came on a power play. The Islanders, who had beaten the Flyers four times in a row, jumped off to a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by Bob Bourne and Tomas Jonsson.

The Kings spent their Friday morning practice going over those aspects of hockey that Coach Pat Quinn thought had not been executed well in the 4-3 loss to St. Louis Thursday night. Considering how the Kings performed in that opening game, it's a wonder that practice didn't run well into the night. Quinn cited a lack of aggressive forechecking, breakdowns on defense, mishandled passes and general first-game jitters as problems for the Kings.

The Kings signed Mike Murphy Wednesday to a multi-year contract as head coach, four months after Murphy took over the position from Pat Quinn at midseason. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Murphy, 36, was the Kings' assistant in charge of special teams when he was thrust into the head coaching position after Quinn was suspended from coaching in the National Hockey League in January. Under Murphy, the Kings had a 13-21-4 record and finished fourth in the Smythe Division.