Buchberger to Be Honored

The Kings will scatter far and wide after tonight’s game. Four will spend the Olympic break in Salt Lake City--Adam Deadmarsh and Aaron Miller playing for the United States, Mattias Norstrom for Sweden and Mikko Eloranta for Finland.

Others will spend the time soaking up the sun from Hawaii to Cabo San Lucas to San Diego. Kelly Buchberger will spend the weekend in Moose Jaw, Canada, a city of about 35,000 where the temperature this time of the year is about minus-25 degrees.

Buchberger, who won three Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers, played junior hockey for the Moose Jaw Warriors, who will retire his jersey No. 24 before Saturday night’s game against the Prince Albert Raiders.

“It’s an honor,” said Buchberger, who grew up about three hours east of Moose Jaw in Langenburg. “It’s such a privilege just to play the game and then to get recognized later on in your career is just an added bonus.”

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Buchberger, more a scraper than a scorer, earned a surprising distinction when he registered the 26th game-winning goal of his career in Thursday night’s 2-1 victory over Carolina.

The goal was the 100th of his career, giving the 35-year-old forward the highest percentage of game-winning goals in NHL history for players with at least 100 goals, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“I didn’t even know they kept such a stat,” said Buchberger, who has played in 1,015 NHL games, averaging a little less than one goal every 10 games.

TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 27-20-7-3, Coyotes 25-22-7-4.

Record vs. Coyotes--0-0-2-1.

Update--The Kings are 13-4-0-1 in the new year, 19-6-3-1 since Dec. 8, but still winless against the Coyotes after squandering a 4-0 second-period lead in Friday night’s 6-5 overtime loss at Phoenix.

Tickets--(888) 546-4752.

Jerry Crowe