LaFayette Finally Gets His Chance

In training camp, center Nathan LaFayette did not even get a chance to play in any exhibition games before he was sent down to Fredericton of the American Hockey League.

Since then, LaFayette’s stock has gone up and, after being recalled earlier this week from the AHL, he was in the lineup Saturday night when the Kings played Washington at the Forum.

“[In Fredericton] Nathan did a good job playing against all of the big lines,” King Coach Larry Robinson said. “He’s another guy that’s quick. During the off-season, he really worked on his strength, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to get him into any exhibition games so we didn’t see how much stronger he got.”

In the first period, LaFayette, 24, skated with wingers Steve McKenna and Glen Murray against the Capitals, and also was used for penalty-killing.

“[LaFayette] will be in a checking role, because we’ve been having to have to play our best lines against the other team’s best lines,” Robinson said. “We want to get our best lines out against the other team’s weaker lines.”

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Defenseman Philippe Boucher, who did not dress against Washington, and his wife, Lucie, are expecting their first child any day. Boucher said delivery may be induced after the Kings play at Vancouver on Monday.

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Olli Jokinen, the third pick overall in the June draft, is doing well playing in the Finnish Elite League. He recently scored three goals and had two assists to lead his team, HIFK, to a 9-4 victory over JYP. Jokinen has six goals and 15 points in 11 games with HIFK.