Youth Doesn’t Always Serve Well

One possible reason for the Kings’ recent inconsistent play could be their youth.

“We have such a young team, when we’ve have success, we’ve don’t know how to handle it,” defenseman Sean O’Donnell said. “Whether it’s been in a game or during the year. When we were seven games over .500, we pulled back a little bit. I think it’s just a maturity thing. We get better as we go along.”

But despite the Kings’ lack of veterans, they do have several players who have played on teams that have advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs.

They are Rob Blake, Ray Ferraro, Garry Galley, Glen Murray, Luc Robitaille, Jozef Stumpel, Nathan LaFayette, Stephane Fiset and Russ Courtnall. Fiset, however, is the only player who has a Stanley Cup championship ring from when he backed up goaltender Patrick Roy with Colorado two seasons ago.

*

Ferraro is doubtful for tonight’s game against Calgary because of inflammation in his left knee. LaFayette has been cleared to play after missing nearly two months because of post-concussion syndrome. Robitaille, who has not played since late February because of a right groin/abdominal injury, will not play tonight but he could be back later this week once his conditioning improves.

TONIGHT’S GAME

vs. Calgary

* 7:30

Site--Great Western Forum.

Radio--XTRA 690 (AM)

Records--Kings 36-31-11; Flames 25-39-14.

Record vs. Flames--4-1.

* Update--Center Yanic Perreault has a team-high 27 goals and needs one more to record the most by a King since Luc Robitaille scored 44 in 1993-94. Calgary, which is 7-22-9 on the road, is led by Theoren Fleury, who has 27 goals.