Hard Work Is Paying Off

The Kings may be the highest-scoring team in the NHL, but the main reason they’ve been unbeaten over their last six games is their grit.

“It’s a battle every night but you wouldn’t want it any other way,” goaltender Jamie Storr said. “Guys are playing hard and our work ethic has been there night in and night out. That’s all that matters. . . . We have a lot of talent this year and if we continue to work hard, a lot of good things will happen for us.”

In going 4-0-2 since Nov. 2, the Kings defeated Eastern Conference power New Jersey Devils on the road and were impressive in fighting back from late deficits to tie two quality teams, the Phoenix Coyotes and Detroit Red Wings.

“It seems like every team we’ve been playing has either been on some type of streak, the defending Stanley Cup champions or a team that is supposed to be the next Stanley Cup champions,” said Storr, who improved to 8-4-3 with Saturday night’s 2-2 tie with Detroit. “You have to be 100% against every team you play against [and] we have been lately and it’s been showing.

“When you’re on a roll, it seems when you work hard, you get the bounces more and more. We were down in the third period against both Phoenix and Detroit and we came back to tie. They are two of the top teams in the league and we want to prove that we can be with them.”

The Kings, who do not play again until Thursday night against the New York Islanders at Staples Center, have worked hard this season to adopt a tougher mental approach than they had last season. The last phrase Coach Andy Murray wrote on the team’s board before the Kings took the ice to play the Red Wings was “Buckle Up”.

“I think we learned a few lessons about our team and we sent a bit of a message to their team and some of the other teams in the league that we are going to battle,” Murray said.

“It’s a small step . . . but we’ll take it.”