Team Currently in Good Standing

The Kings waxed philosophical Thursday at their last practice before the holiday break.

Told by Dave Taylor, the team’s senior vice president and general manager, that the organization was happy with most of the season’s first 34 games, they were nevertheless disappointed in the last four, all losses.

The fourth, a 2-1 decision at San Jose on Wednesday night, was an exception to a rule they have adopted.

It’s called the 23-9 rule.

“Twenty-three shots, nine scoring chances,” King Coach Andy Murray explained. “That’s a lofty goal, but one that, if met, should give you a win in 99.9% of the games.”

At this juncture, Taylor and Murray tend to want to look at the whole, rather than the parts.

“I think if we hadn’t had happen to us what has happened to us over the last four games, if we had said before the season that we would have 39 points at the holiday, we’d be happy,” Murray said.

The Kings are in eighth place in the Western Conference--the conference’s final playoff berth--three points ahead of ninth-place Edmonton.

Taylor finished his state-of-the-Kings address by giving each player a certificate for a round of golf, the team’s Christmas present from management.

“It’s redeemable in late June,” Murray cracked.

Just after the Stanley Cup finals.

*

Winger Craig Johnson (shoulder) and defenseman Aki Berg (hip) were excused from practice because of injuries suffered in Wednesday’s game. Both are called “doubtful” for Sunday’s game against Phoenix.

Goalie Stephane Fiset also was excused, because of a sore groin, but is expected to play against the Coyotes.

If Berg is unable to play, look for defenseman Jere Karalahti to move up from Long Beach in what has become a yo-yo existence for him.