Rookie Defenseman Corvo to Face June Trial

Joe Corvo of the Kings faces a June 23 trial in Boston on charges that he sexually assaulted and attacked a woman last November while he was on the roster of the club’s top minor league team, it was determined Friday at a pretrial hearing.

The rookie defenseman is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, his foot, and indecent assault and battery, both felonies. He also is charged with simple assault and battery, a misdemeanor.

Corvo, 25, pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment in November.

Recalled by the Kings in December from their American Hockey League team at Manchester, N.H., he has been with the NHL club ever since and was not required to attend Friday’s hearing in Boston Municipal Court.

A native of Oak Park, Ill., Corvo is accused of grabbing a female patron’s buttocks at a downtown Boston restaurant and lounge at about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 13. According to the police report, he was asked to leave the restaurant but returned a short time later and punched the 34-year-old Boston woman in the face.

The woman collapsed to the floor, where the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Corvo allegedly kicked her several times before fleeing to a nearby pub.

The Kings declined comment and Corvo could not be reached.

If convicted of the indecent assault charge, Corvo could face up to five years in state prison. If convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, he could face up to 10 years in state prison.

-- Jerry Crowe

One of the more frustrating things about the Kings’ play this season has been the number of penalties for too many players on the ice. It happened twice in the first period of the Kings’ 3-1 loss at Columbus on Thursday and led to a Blue Jacket power-play goal.

For a detail-oriented coach such as Andy Murray, it has been a problem that digs deep.

“There’s no reason for it,” Murray said. “The players know who is responsible. We tell them clearly whom they are supposed to go in for. We can’t grab a player and put him on the ice. It’s something that shouldn’t happen. Those kinds of penalties kill you and there’s absolutely no reason for it.”

With the Kings playing with so many different lineup combinations because of injuries, one would think that’s the reason behind their numerous bench penalties. Not Murray.

“I don’t think the lineup changes have had anything to do with it,” he said. “In both cases [involving defensemen Mathieu Schneider and Dmitry Yushkevich on Thursday], our guys made poor decisions.”

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Add winger Steve Heinze (concussion) and Erik Rasmussen (back) to the Kings’ lengthy injury list. Continued bad news for forwards Jason Allison (leg) and Adam Deadmarsh (concussion), who still are not skating.

-- Lonnie White

TODAY

vs. Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 27-29-4-4, Thrashers 21-32-5-4.

Record vs. Thrashers -- 1-0-0-0.

Update -- Atlanta is 2-2-1 in its last five games and is coming off an overtime victory Thursday at Colorado.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.