Michael Zampelli

Los Angeles Kings fans were a bit apprehensive about seeing their team face superstar Alex Ovechkin and his red-hot Washington Capitals on Thursday night. On one hand, it was a rare chance to see the Capitals, who haven't visited L.A. since Dec. 14, 2005. On the other, the Kings were on a two-game slide and the Caps were riding a streak of six wins in seven games, including a thrashing of the Ducks on the...

The Los Angeles Kings were only able to muster one lone goal in their two games over the weekend, which resulted in a pair of losses. On Saturday night they dropped a home game against the Nashville Predators by the score of 3-1, and on Sunday they went scoreless to lose to the Anaheim Ducks, 2-0. Their next test comes on Thursday, when superstar Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals skate into Staples Center at...

Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown showed how he leads his team on Tuesday night, which is by example. He did what he does best by delivering some bone-crunching checks at crucial moments that helped the Kings on their way to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Dallas Stars. The check of the night (and possibly the year) came midway through the second period, when he sent Stephane Robidas flying over the barrier where he...

Story by Sheri Zampelli The LA Derby Dolls 2008 Championships were like an emotional replay of last week's presidential election. The Tough Cookies, who have never won a championship, faced off against the 2007 champion Sirens. "Cookie's in '08" election-style posters have been plastered around the Doll Factory for nearly a year, and as attendees filed into the building for Saturday night's bout they received "I voted Cookies '08" lapel stickers. The Tough Cookies skated...

About 2000 Long Beach opponents of Proposition 8 gathered at the corner of Redondo and Broadway at about 7PM tonight, chanting and waving signs. Following prompting from organizers with bull horns, the crowd took to over the street and marched west on Broadway, headed for Alamitos Ave. (2 miles away) while being closely watched by LBPD as well as news crews from major TV networks....

19-year-old rookie Oscar Moller scored two goals for the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night, but it wasn't enough to prevent their fourth straight loss as the Calgary Flames scored three of their own for the win. Moller's second tally of the game evened the scoring at two apiece, but the Flames' Daymond Langkow put the game-winner away with 3:37 remaining to seal the victory. The Kings will try and stop the bleeding when they...

It was a party atmosphere at Staples Center on Thursday night, with Bailey the mascot and all of the new LA Kings Ice Girls dressed in Halloween costumes. Unfortunately, the Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo wasn't in the mood to give the Kings any "treats" and stopped every shot they sent his way. Even after Alexander Frolov was awarded a penalty shot, the Kings luck didn't change as the puck slipped off his stick and...

The Los Angeles Kings were hanging tough against the 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings on Monday night, and it looked like they might steal a victory as the game entered the final minutes. But it wasn't to be, as Kings Denis Gauthier attempted an ill-advised clearing pass that ended up on the stick Valtteri Filppula and in the back of the Kings net. The giveaway goal tied the score, sending the contest into...

The LA Derby Dolls showcased their up-and-coming skaters on Saturday night with a rare "all-ages" Halloween-themed battle called the Baby Doll Brawl. Aspiring Derby Dolls, who participate in the weekly "Fresh Meat" practices, were formed into two teams named "Toil 'n Trouble" and "Witch Slap" and given a chance to show their stuff. The real "treat" for the fans was a mini-bout at halftime amongst the Junior Derby Dolls, who are the next generation of...

The Los Angeles Kings' strategy of spotting the opponent a two-goal lead before surging to a thrilling comeback (that worked so well in the last two games) let them down on Monday night against the Colorado Avalanche. Despite inaugural NHL goals by Kings' rookies Oscar Moller and Drew Doughty, the Kings came up just a little short thanks to Colorado's Ryan Smyth burying two goals and Milan Hejduk scoring his sixth goal in six games,...