Drew Doughty

When the Kings' prized rookie defenseman Drew Doughty crumpled to the ice after a big hit from Tampa Bay's Evgeny Artyukhin midway through the second period, his defensive partner, Sean O'Donnell, chased Artyukhin off the ice, jabbing him with his stick until he drew a cross-checking penalty. Doughty left the game because of a bruised thigh. As for the response from the rest of the Kings? The Staples Center crowd -- and Coach Terry Murray -- are still waiting.

Drew Doughty might lead the Kings to the playoffs this season. The 19-year-old defenseman might develop into a perennial All-Star and win the Norris trophy often enough to buy a tuxedo for the awards ceremony, not rent. But not even then will he be allowed to forget his welcome-to-the-NHL moment last season. The Kings were playing Colorado and Doughty found himself one-on-one with winger Ryan Smyth, the gifted rookie against the wily veteran. One second, Smyth was in front of him. The next, Smyth had gotten through him and the puck was in the net. Doughty remembers it well.

Drew Doughty's life is color-coordinated. Greene, he's at home. Brown, he's on the road. That is how the Kings have structured things for Doughty, hoping that by keeping things simple off the ice for the 19-year-old defenseman he can continue to make life difficult for opposing teams on it. Doughty, the second overall pick in June, walked out of the Ontario Hockey League in spring and into the Kings' lineup in fall.