Kings Can Clinch Spot in Playoffs
The Kings will be without Bernie Nicholls, their No. 3 scorer, when they meet the Vancouver Canucks tonight with a chance to clinch a spot in the National Hockey League playoffs.
Nicholls was suspended for five games by the NHL for swinging his stick at Ulf Samuelsson of the Hartford Whalers in a game March 9 at Hartford, Conn. The Kings had seven days in which to appeal but decided against it.
His place on the roster will be taken by Chris Kontos, who was acquired last month in the trade that sent Bryan Erickson to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With seven games left, the Kings lead the last-place Canucks by eight points in the race for fourth place in the Smythe Division. Vancouver has six games left.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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