Skating

April Sargent-Thomas, who with Russ Witherby forms the No. 2 ice dance team in the United States, reportedly might miss next month's U.S. Figure Skating Championships after undergoing surgery for a ruptured ovarian cyst. The Ogdensburg (N.Y.) Journal reported that Sargent-Thomas was released from a hospital Wednesday and was told by doctors she would have to skip the nationals Jan. 6-12 at Orlando, Fla.

Departing from their routine, the Kings planned to stay at a downtown hotel Wednesday night and conduct their morning skate at Staples Center before Game 3 of their playoff series against the St. Louis Blues. Goaltender Jonathan Quick saw a big benefit beyond making players feel as if they're on the road, where they're 5-0 in postseason play. "I think it's more like we want our rink to feel like it's our rink," he said Wednesday. "We've never practiced there. Four years I've been here, we've never practiced there.

Skating on Stilts Why We Aren't Stopping Tomorrow's Terrorism Stewart Baker Hoover Institution Press: 376 pp., $19.95

When: 7:30. Where: Staples Center. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 1150. Records: Kings 24-16-10, Blue Jackets 13-31-6. Record vs. Blue Jackets: 1-1. Update: Kings President and General Manager Dean Lombardi said that concussed forward Simon Gagne has made "marginal progress. " Gagne, who has a history of head injuries, suffered the concussion Dec. 26 against the Phoenix Coyotes and has missed 14 games. "Is he close to playing?" Lombardi said.

I remember the glory of yesteryear, when stars like Terri Lynch, Honey Sanchez, Ralphie Valladares, Ronnie Rains, John Parker and John Hall skated the banked track ("Roller Derby Redux," by Judy Raphael, Palm Latitudes, Feb. 26). And I still recall how the late Dick Lane called the games in his colorful and high-spirited voice. Hats off to each and every competitors in this new venture of speed skating and showmanship. Good work, Bert Wall and Bob Venter. Hooray for Gina Valladares and all the other young speedy skaters.

FIGURE SKATING Chinese team is expected to win in pairs One of the marquee events of the Winter Olympics, figure skating, gets underway with the pairs short program. Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China are the gold-medal favorites, with Pang Qing and Yong Jian of China and Alona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany also medal threats. Russians have won the gold in this event every Olympics since 1964. FREESTYLE SKIING Deneen could shine in moguls World champion Patrick Deneen of the U.S. should contend for a men's moguls medal, but the favorite going into the competition is Dale Begg-Smith of Australia.

Kim Yu-na could be excused if she had cracked under the pressure. Going for gold in Vancouver on Thursday night, the slight South Korean figure skater carried more than her own expectations of victory; she represented the yearning of a nation. And when Kim delivered with a skate for the ages, Koreans had not just their country's first-ever figure skating gold medal, but something many treasure even more: the defeat of Kim's closest rival, Mao Asada of Japan. When it comes to sports, there is little sweeter to a Korean than a victory over Japan, its former colonial occupier and the country against which it measures success.

He entered in the dark; black costume, slick black hair, deeply tanned face, second place. He finished in the light, those spangled arms pumping in joy, that hair coming unglued during his spins, the switch flipped from gloom to gold. Finally, an American male figure skater took the Olympic ice with the guts and skill of, well, an American woman. Finally, one of our dudes ruffled more than his shirt. In nine of the most stirringly unexpected minutes of these Olympics, Evan Lysacek torched, Russian rival Evgeni Plushenko trembled, mastery beat might, precision beat power, and the top of a podium was stolen.

She has talked about needing to overcome her evil side, described herself as neither smart nor pretty, let her face be a mirror for every emotion she feels. Mirai Nagasu is not easy on herself, even if she swears most of what she says is not meant in a "self-deprecatory way" but comes from a sarcastic sense of humor that leaves her words open to misinterpretation. For all that, her answers remain blunt. Asked to describe herself, Nagasu replied, "Talented but lazy." It is the tension between those characteristics that Nagasu feels has kept her from building on the promise she showed two years ago, winning the senior women's national figure skating title at age 14. "Everything was so easy for me," she said, eating lunch during the break between recent late morning and early afternoon practices at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo.

Merchants in Old Pasadena are calling on the City Council to ban skating and skateboarding in the business district. "With the sidewalks being so overcrowded, for the safety of pedestrians and Rollerbladers we need a ban," said Jack Smith, president of the Old Pasadena Business & Professional Assn. "We had a little old lady not so long ago knocked off her heels," he said.

It's winter, so let the snow play begin. The ski-in, ski-out Resort at Squaw Creek at Lake Tahoe offers a family package starting at $299 a night that adds skiing, skating and sledding to room amenities. The deal: The offer is good for a room that accommodates two adults and two children 12 and younger.  Included in the package are free ice skating and skate rentals, free sledding and one free child's lift ticket (12 and younger) for Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. The deal requires a two-night minimum stay; prices start at $299 a night midweek and $349 a night on weekends.

As a performer, it can be difficult reprising a well-known role — particularly if the part you're playing is a two-dimensional doll adored by millions of children. Professional ice skater Adam Loosley has spent the past several months on a cross-country tour as pull-string cowboy Woody from "Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3," which will show at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario through Sunday, then in the Long Beach Arena from Wednesday to Jan. 8. "It's learning how Woody would move — how to move like a rag doll — and it takes a lot of time," says the Canadian native, who's been skating since he was a toddler.

MUSIC Noel Gallagher The former Oasis staple is front and center, both live and on his solo debut, "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. " Not as memorable as Oasis' best anthems in the '90s or as nasally rock-ready as his brother's latest incarnation, Beady Eye, but the album hovers within a melodic good-to-average middle ground. The album encircles themes of love, melancholy and aging. Royce Hall, UCLA. 8 p.m. $37-$77. uclalive.org . Kyuss Lives! Ax wielder Josh Homme may have moved on to Queens of the Stone Age, but the band he helped jump-start two decades ago in Palm Desert lives on. Vocalist John Garcia has reunited with Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri to continue the group's heavy metal desert rock assault.

EVENTS For the fifth year, the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica will morph into an 8,000-square-foot rink by the beach called, fittingly, Ice. In addition to ice skating, events include a L.A. Kings-hosted hockey clinic, adults-only after-hours broomball, wacky hat Wednesdays, a post-Halloween costume skate and rock 'n' skate on Fridays with live bands and DJs. 1324 5th St., Santa Monica. Fri.-Jan. 16. Various times. $12. iceatsantamonica.com.

Wearing the yellow jersey, signaling no contact, marked Drew Doughty's moving one step closer to full-time duties patrolling the blue line. Doughty practiced with his Kings teammates Monday in El Segundo, and there were indications he could return to the lineup this weekend. "I was very encouraged to see him out there with the team today," Coach Terry Murray said. "There was no contact on him, and that's the way it will probably be for another few days. " The prized defenseman suffered an injury to his right shoulder during a game at Philadelphia on Oct. 15. "I really wanted to test it out there today, but they sent me out there with no contact," Doughty said.

Fans were few and falls were many Sunday at Skate America, but ultimately U.S. champion Alissa Czisny held on to win the women's title and defending world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany came from behind to win the pairs title at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. Czisny, 24, uncharacteristically fell early in her free skate and looked surprised when she scrambled to her feet after landing her triple flip on her side instead of on her feet. She also had an unsteady finish to a triple loop and doubled another of her seven planned triple jumps, enough mistakes to have her holding her breath while waiting for the final scores.

Last night I saw Harding and Kerrigan Being beat up on TV; they were there again. From a sport where they skate, Which we usually hate, How I yearn for the day we won't care again. JOHN THOMPSON Chino