Game Is First for Blake in Nearly a Year

Defenseman Rob Blake was cleared to play against the Islanders, meeting with a team doctor at 6 p.m. It was Blake’s first game in a King uniform since Oct. 20 at Washington when he went down because of a season-ending knee injury. He has appeared in only 30 games the last two seasons.

Blake had been sidelined during training camp because of an elbow infection and partially torn right tricep since last month, suffering the injury last month at the World Cup.

Those scratched from the King lineup on Friday were right wing Matt Johnson and defensemen Aki Berg and Sean O’Donnell. Four players are on injured reserve--left wing Vladimir Tsyplakov, left wing Craig Johnson and defensemen Steven Finn and Philippe Boucher.

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The Kings dedicated their media guide to late Times sports columnist Allan Malamud. Malamud covered the team for several years when he worked for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner.