New coach, New Arena, New Kings

Kings roster

A lot has changed since the Kings finished a dismal season at 32-45-5 and out of the playoffs last spring. The team has a new coach, new players and they are moving to a brand new arena next week.

"My first goal as coach was to make sure I was still coach by our home opener at the Staples Center," Coach Andy Murray joked. "And when you looked at our road trip, some people might have doubted that."

This is Murray's first time as a head coach in the NHL. He has been an NHL assistant for three teams (Philadelphia, Minnesota and Winnipeg) and also served as the head coach of the Canadian National Team from 1996-98. Last year he coached a high school team in Minnesota.

"When I got here everybody was saying, 'But he's just a high school coach,'" Murray said. "Now that we've gotten off to a good start, people are maybe believing I can coach a little bit."

Big factor in the Kings success has been the top line of Luc Robitaille, Ziggy Palffy and Jozef Stumpel. The line has accumulated 22 points in six games and has 13 of the team's 18 goals.

Palffy, who was Stumpel's teammate playing junior hockey in their native Slovakia, was acquired with Bryan Smolinski in an off-season trade from the New York Islanders.

Robitaille is clearly enjoying himself and he was named the NHL Player of the Week for the first time since 92-93 season.

"Our skill level is higher than last season," Robitaille said. "Our power play is better. To get Ziggy on the team, then add Smolinski on the second line ... it just gives us a lot more offensively. But we believe we can be competitive. Our goalies are good. Blake and Norstrom on defense. As a matter of fact, we've got five or six good defensemen now."

No team can rely only on one line and the Kings second line finally broke the ice against Calgary. Donald Audette and Smolinski each had a goal and an assist.

"I finally got one, Donald got one, and that's what we're supposed to do," said Smolinski, "It's been a season of ups and downs for us and it's great to be finally rewarded."