KINGS REPORT : Level of Play Encouraging

Let’s see now, new guys? Check. Old guy? Check. Rehabilitated guys? Check. Exiled guys? Check. Kids? Check.

Everything checked out in Wednesday’s intrasquad scrimmage when the Kings got goals from Aki Berg (back from last season’s self-exile in Finland), Bryan Smolinski (new guy, acquired in trade from New York Islanders), Steve McKenna (rehabilitated from stomach injury), Glen Murray (rehabilitated from knee injury) and Donald MacLean (kid) in a 5-4 win over their teammates.

The aforementioned group is Team B, and it overcame goals by Team A’s Ziggy Palffy (new guy, Islander trade), Luc Robitaille (old guy), Len Barrie (new guy, played in Germany last season) and Kevin Baker (kid).

“We challenged people and they raised the level of their games,” Coach Andy Murray said. “We thought we saw some things we have been working on in practice, and that was encouraging.”

Particularly encouraging was the play of Glen Murray, who is skating without the knee brace he wore for about half of last season after an injury.

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The Kings have asked the NHL for relief from an exhibition-game rule that requires teams to dress 12 players who were in 30 or more league games last season. The Kings have only 17 such players, and two of those--defensemen Philippe Boucher (foot injury) and Mattias Norstrom (unsigned)--are not available.