O’Donnell Takes Advantage of His Opportunity

When Rob Blake missed 15 games because of a broken foot, the Kings shuffled defensive combinations the way a dealer shuffles cards at Las Vegas, finally coming up with a top pairing of Mattias Norstrom and Sean O’Donnell.

It was a big step up for O’Donnell.

“It gave me a lot of confidence to play against the other teams’ top lines,” said O’Donnell, who is one of only five Kings above the line in the plus-minus ratings. He is plus-one.

“I’d played against them once in a while, to try to match up size, but every game with Rob out, somebody had to step up. If you can’t accept a challenge, you don’t belong here.”

O’Donnell did just that and earned a spot in the top two defensive pairings when Blake returns after serving the remaining two games of his three-game suspension, handed down by the NHL for a stick-swinging incident during Saturday’s game against Vancouver.

When Blake comes back on Sunday, he resumes his spot with Norstrom, and O’Donnell is paired with Doug Bodger.

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Winger Russ Courtnall, sidelined since Nov. 18 because of a broken ankle, has been walking without crutches, much to the chagrin of Kings’ medical personnel.

“They told me to use at least one crutch,” said Courtnall, who added that he expects the injury to require eight weeks to heal. That would keep him from playing until the first of the year.

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Winger Matt Johnson, serving a 12-game suspension since a Nov. 19 incident in the game against the New York Rangers, is back in town after spending time at his home near Toronto.

He is practicing again and can be activated for the Kings’ game at Pittsburgh on Dec. 22.

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The Kings had Tuesday off and resume practice today in preparation for Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders.