Biography
Helene Elliott has been a member of the Los Angeles Times' sports department since 1989. She was hired as a baseball writer and covered the ...
Kings' Luc Robitaille fought to prove the skeptics wrong
November 10, 2009
Whoever wrote the script summarizing Luc Robitaille's career for the highlight film that accompanied his hockey Hall of Fame induction Monday got it wrong.
-
Luck has little to do with Luc Robitaille's success
November 9, 2009
Luc Robitaille was never the fastest skater or most purely gifted player on the ice at any level he played. For a while, he wasn't even the most prolific scorer.
-
Kings win battle of the best, beating Pittsburgh, 5-2
November 6, 2009
As much as Kings Coach Terry Murray had insisted his team's game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday would not measure anything, it could become a pivotal moment in a season that is crystallizing into something very, very interesting.
-
Penguins keep marching strong
November 3, 2009
Players roared and pumped their fists as the puck crossed the goal line, happily gathering at center ice to celebrate a hard-fought victory.
-
Kings struggle in shootout for second night, lose, 2-1, to Vancouver
October 30, 2009
Holding a good opponent to one goal but losing a shootout became repetitive for the Kings, who came out on the short end of a 2-1 loss after the NHL's entertaining but absurd tiebreaking procedure for the second straight night.
-
Kings and Kopitar hit on winning combination
October 28, 2009
It's too early in the season to dream too big and these are the Kings, after all, masters of selling hope, if nothing else.
-
Ducks, once strong, show their weak side
October 27, 2009
The Ducks never minded when opponents and critics called them dirty. Their physicality was a big part of their personality, and Chris Pronger's on-the-edge impulse control made other teams fear them.
-
Helene Elliott's NHL Rankings
October 27, 2009
Through Monday
-
Brian Burke brings everything to Toronto but victories
October 26, 2009
When Brian Burke became the general manager of the Maple Leafs last November, a few weeks after he had stepped down from the same post with the Ducks, he promised Toronto fans a more aggressive style of hockey.
-
Michal Handzus wins it for Kings in OT
October 23, 2009
It shouldn't have been this difficult. But even after adding skill and grit the Kings are still the Kings, in many ways, and no gain comes easily to them.
-
Alexander Frolov is back in the Kings' lineup
October 21, 2009
After taking the surprising step Monday of scratching a healthy Alexander Frolov from the Kings' game at Dallas, Kings Coach Terry Murray said he left "an opening in the door" for Frolov to return.
-
Murray sends message to young Kings by sitting star winger Frolov
October 20, 2009
It wasn't one terrible pass in a loss at Columbus that led Kings Coach Terry Murray to scratch a healthy Alexander Frolov from the lineup Monday at Dallas.
-
Helene Elliott's NHL rankings
October 20, 2009
Through Monday
-
St. Louis Blues try to live up to the anticipation
October 17, 2009
Injuries began hitting the St. Louis Blues last season before they even played a real game, starting when defenseman Erik Johnson tore up his knee in a golf cart accident during a team outing in September and never really stopping.
-
Capitals' Ted Leonsis owns up to the good and the bad
October 13, 2009
The headline on Ted Leonsis' blog about the Washington Capitals' loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday was short and sweet:
-
Helene Elliott's NHL Rankings
October 13, 2009
Through Monday
-
Kings defeat Minnesota, 6-3, but struggle with penalty killing
October 9, 2009
Last season, the Kings were one of the league's worst teams at scoring while playing five-on-five and one of the best teams at killing penalties.
-
Kings almost let a big one get away
October 7, 2009
Teddy Purcell had the right idea.
-
Coyotes are trying to prove they're not a dead team skating
October 6, 2009
Dave Tippett barely had a week to prepare the Phoenix Coyotes for the start of the season. Hired hours after Wayne Gretzky resigned as coach -- and while lawyers argued about who will own the bankrupt franchise and where it will play next season -- Tippett inherited a team that has every excuse to fail.
-
Helene Elliott's NHL rankings
October 6, 2009
Through Monday
-
Angels might be too giddy for an unfinished job
September 29, 2009
The champagne flowed and the beer foamed and nothing and no one stayed dry in the Angels' clubhouse Monday.
-
Jonathan Quick hopes to solve Kings' problems in goal
September 13, 2009
No matter how many goals Ryan Smyth produces by being fearless around the net, no matter how many shots defenseman Rob Scuderi blocks with his arms, legs or newly minted Stanley Cup ring, the Kings' success this season will hinge on goaltending.
-
Hall of Fame vote a real corker for Luc Robitaille and Kings
June 24, 2009
Champagne doesn't flow freely around the Kings' offices, what with the playoffs a distant memory and one Stanley Cup finals appearance since 1967, but two bottles sat in a bucket in their conference room Tuesday beside a cake decorated with ripe strawberries and the words "Congratulations Luc."
-
Luc Robitaille hoping for Hockey Hall of Fame phone call Tuesday
June 23, 2009
Luc Robitaille plans to spend today at his desk at the Kings' El Segundo offices, but it won't be business as usual.
-
Lakers bench steps up in win
December 14, 2007
Tim Duncan and Tony Parker were missing from the San Antonio Spurs' lineup Thursday, each resting a sprained ankle and unable to play against the Lakers.
Save more than