Chartrand’s Role in the Line of Duty

Brad Chartrand learned Friday morning that he was being moved from the fourth to the third line, replacing injured right wing Marko Tuomainen.

His assignment was to shadow Phoenix’s Keith Tkachuk.

“It’s a challenge,” said Chartrand, a 24-year-old rookie. “I don’t think I’m going to have to change my game, though. Defense is still my game.”

Except in the first period, when Chartrand found himself open with the puck on the right side, from which he sent it to the middle, where it was deflected by defenseman Aki Berg to Ian Laperriere, who scored.

The assist was Chartrand’s first NHL point, and he followed that with his second, in the second period, when he and Laperriere worked a give-and-go for Laperriere’s second goal of the game.

Not that defense had been forgotten. Tkachuk had his shots--three in the first period alone--but no goals and a penalty when he high-sticked Laperriere in the second period.

The resultant power play culminated in a goal by the Kings’ Ziggy Palffy.

Tkachuk did have his moments, finishing with a goal and two assists.

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A damper motor, which controls the flow of air over the ice, failed during Friday’s game. It stuck in an open position, which sent more air over the ice and caused melting.

The water was handled by workers with squeegees pushing it away from spots in the south end of Staples Center, but the ice remained soft, particularly at the Kings’ end of the rink during the third period.