Wayne Simmonds

Whether prompted by the Canucks' media relations department or speaking spontaneously, Vancouver defenseman Shane O'Brien sort of apologized for grandstanding after he fought the Kings' Wayne Simmonds on Friday near the end of the 7-2 playoff rout that put the Canucks in position to end the Kings' season Sunday at Staples Center. O'Brien raised his index finger and gestured to the crowd, palms up, as if to request more applause for his pugilistic feats. Kings Coach Terry Murray criticized him and called him a clown.

Reporting from Glendale, Ariz. ? With defenseman Drew Doughty recovering from an apparent concussion and out of their lineup a minimum of seven days, the Kings need every remaining player to elevate his game. Only a few heeded that call Thursday in a 4-2 loss to the Coyotes in front of an announced crowd of 6,706 at Jobing.com Arena. Phoenix forward Lee Stempniak scored twice in the first period and finished his first NHL hat trick by scoring into an empty net late in the third, ending the Kings' three-game winning streak and emphasizing that life could be challenging for the Kings while Doughty is gone.

The Kings began this journey with a comeback win against Detroit and ended it with comeback wins at Boston and New Jersey, taking home their first-ever perfect record on a five-game trip and much, much more. "This game today, I think, was a real good look at the type of team we're starting to become," Coach Terry Murray said after Wayne Simmonds and Drew Doughty scored on Martin Brodeur in the last two minutes Sunday to lift the Kings to a 3-2 victory over the stunned Devils and win for the eighth time in nine games.

KINGS TONIGHT VS. MONTREAL When: 7. Where: Staples Center. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 1150. Records: Kings 38-21-4, Canadiens 30-29-6. Record vs. Canadiens [2008-09]: 0-1-0. Update: Deadline-day acquisitions Jeff Halpern and Fredrik Modin will make their home debuts as Kings. During Friday's practice Halpern centered for Richard Clune and Scott Parse, while Modin played left wing with Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds. This will be the team's first game at Staples Center since Feb. 13, before the Olympic break.

Drew Doughty scored the go-ahead goal with 4:51 remaining and the Kings rallied to beat the Phoenix Coyotes, 5-3, on Monday night. Ryan Smyth scored twice, Anze Kopitar had a goal and two assists, and Justin Williams also scored for the Kings, who won for the first time in five games this season when downafter two periods. The Kings ended a two-game losing streak. Shane Doan, Martin Hanzal and Scott Upshall scored for the Coyotes, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped.