He’ll Need a Bite to Eat

It was the second period Friday night, and King defenseman Steve Duchesne was face down on the ice after being caught in the mouth with a stick.

“The referee [Mick McGeough] came over and asked if I was all right,” Duchesne said. “I wasn’t. My tooth was stuck in my throat. Then I threw it up all over him.”

It was the second time this season that Duchesne has lost three front teeth--these are part of a bridge--in a game, and the rest of the trip is going to be difficult for him gastronomically.

“Yeah, I’m going to have a hard time eating wings in Buffalo,” he said.

*

In his first game back after an injury, forward Craig Johnson had two assists, his fourth and fifth of the season.

Both came on goals by Ray Ferraro, in the first and second periods.

Tonight

at Buffalo, 4:30 PST

Channel 9

Site--Marine Midland Arena, Buffalo.

Radio--KRLA (1110).

Records--Kings 17-26-4, Sabres 23-14-8.

Record vs. Sabres--1-0.

Update--Buffalo is trying to set a post-All-Star game record for meetings, having held two players-only sessions this week, with no noticeable effect on what is an apparently increasingly selfish team. The Sabres were beaten, 4-2, on Thursday when Nashville touched goalie Dominik Hasek for two goals in the third period. This after Buffalo had tied Phoenix, 1-1, on Tuesday. The Sabres are 4-8-3 in their last 15 games, 2-4-2 in their last eight at home. Expect Jamie Storr in goal for the Kings.