This Author Stuff Is Tougher Than You Know

King winger Dan Bylsma got an early Christmas present when the publisher of “So Your Son Wants to Play in the NHL” ordered a second printing of the book authored by Bylsma and his father Jay.

The first printing was 15,000 books.

Bylsma has helped sales by signing the book wherever he can find it, and while he was playing at Long Beach--between stints with the Kings--he went a little beyond the call.

“I was hit in the face by a puck during the game,” he said, “but it didn’t hurt that much. I played a couple more shifts.”

Game over, he stayed around to sign books as part of an Ice Dogs’ promotion. While he was signing, his jaw began throbbing, and when he had finished, he was taken to a hospital.

His jaw was broken in three places.

“I didn’t miss any games,” Bylsma says proudly, “but as a result, I wear the full face mask.”

That’s until the injury heals, after which he goes maskless again.

Since being recalled from Long Beach on Dec. 18, Bylsma has been installed on the fourth line, a rugged unit centered by Ian Laperriere and with Mark Visheau at the other wing.

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King winger Glen Murray has three goals and five points over his last three games. He has 10 points (four goals) in his last nine games. . . . Since coming over from Buffalo, winger Donald Audette has two goals in only seven shots. . . . Luc Robitaille has six goals and five assists over his last nine games. . . . The Kings have pulled their goalie 13 times this season to add an attacker and have yet to score. They have, however, given up seven empty-net goals.

TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix

7:30, Fox Sports West

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 10-20-3, Coyotes 19-6-4.

* Record vs. Coyotes--0-2.

* Update--The next goal the Kings score against Phoenix will be their first. They were shut out, 3-0, on Nov. 1, and, 4-0, on Nov. 28. The Coyotes received a scare when Detroit’s Kris Draper crashed into left wing and captain Keith Tkachuk on Tuesday. Tkachuk underwent an MRI on Christmas Eve and was found to have has a sprained knee ligament that probably will keep him out of tonight’s game. He has been sidelined three games this season, and Phoenix has lost all three, including a Wednesday outing against Chicago, 4-3.