Karalahti Makes Quick Return

With the status of Philippe Boucher uncertain after the King defenseman suffered a concussion in the second period of Thursday night’s 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, Jere Karalahti was recalled Friday from the minors.

Karalahti, loaned this week to the Kings’ American Hockey League team at Manchester, N.H., on a conditioning assignment, flew back and forth between Los Angeles and New Hampshire without ever playing for the Monarchs.

The Finnish defenseman, who had been scratched from all but four of the Kings’ previous 22 games, arrived in Manchester in time for Wednesday night’s game, but his equipment did not. He was all set to play in Friday night’s game before getting the call to return to Los Angeles.

His plane was scheduled to touch down at LAX at about midnight.

Boucher, meanwhile, was scheduled to be reevaluated late Friday after being leveled Thursday by a clean hit by Sabre forward Taylor Pyatt.

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The Kings, who lead the NHL in penalty-killing percentage, have killed 93 of 95 penalties over their last 23 games, outscoring the opposition during that time, 3-2, while at a manpower disadvantage. They have not given up a power-play goal in 11 games, killing their last 44 penalties to match a club record.

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TODAY

vs. New York Islanders, 1

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 21-17-7-2, Islanders 23-16-5-2.

Record vs. Islanders--1-0.

Update--Eric Belanger scored two goals, Bryan Smolinski scored one and former Islander Felix Potvin stopped 28 shots in the Kings’ 3-0 victory over the Islanders on Jan. 5 at Uniondale, N.Y., part of a 7-1 run by the surging Kings to start the new year.

Tickets--(888) 546-4752.

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Jerry Crowe