Rangers to Face a Different Team

The last time the Kings played the New York Rangers, it was the third game of the season and they were still a team merely hoping to improve from last season.

The Kings battled the more publicized Rangers for nearly three periods and held a 2-1 lead in the final minute of regulation. New York, however, was able to escape with a 2-2 tie on a goal by former King Kevin Stevens that was reviewed by the video-replay judge with nine seconds left.

Tonight, the Kings want to show the Rangers, who will have former Kings Wayne Gretzky and Stevens in the lineup, that they are a legitimate playoff contender.

“This is a great game for us,” King defenseman Rob Blake said. “Early in the season, they were able to get a tie late in the game. We’re going to be ready for them. We’re not done yet.”

*

Since Nathan LaFayette was recalled Dec. 11 from Fredericton of the American Hockey League, his play has helped give the Kings another strong faceoff specialist and defensive-minded forward.

Coach Larry Robinson, however, says that LaFayette’s play has begun to slip in recent games and is hoping that it’s simply fatigue.

“It worries me because this is the way he started to play when he was sent down in prior years,” Robinson said. “He’s got to get that fight and grit back. He’s losing faceoffs and not playing the way we wanted him to play. . . . Slowly but surely, [mistakes] are starting to creep back into his game.”

Tonight

vs.

N.Y.

Rangers

* 7:30

* Fox Sports

West

Site--Great Western Forum.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Kings 24-20-9, Rangers 17-23-15.

Record vs. Rangers--0-0-1.

Update--The Kings gained a split of a back-to-back set with a 6-3 victory at Calgary on Tuesday. They are 7-1-1 over their last nine games, and Jozef Stumpel has 16 points in his last 10. Goaltender Stephane Fiset is expected to start tonight and is 5-1-1 in his last seven starts at home.