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A five-game unbeaten
streak against any team is an accomplishment. It is even more impressive when
it comes against one of the league's elite clubs.
The Los Angeles Kings will try to make it six straight without a loss against
the Ottawa Senators when they play their first game of the season at Staples
Center.
Ottawa led the NHL with 113 points last season, but lost both meetings with Los Angeles. The Kings posted a 3-2 victory at Ottawa on Nov. 8, and Ziggy Palffy scored twice in the third period in a 3-0 home victory on Jan. 30.
The Kings have outscored the Senators 18-11 during a 4-0-1 stretch which dates to a 4-3 loss on Jan. 11, 2000.
After a disappointing
3-2 season-opening loss at Detroit, the Kings rebounded with consecutive wins
over Pittsburgh and Chicago.
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Trent Klatt scored twice in a 33-second span of the second period and Roman
Cechmanek stopped 32 shots Sunday in a 3-2 victory over the Blackhawks.
Klatt, signed as a free agent from Vancouver, already has three goals this season after scoring 16 in 82 games with the Canucks in 2002-03.
``I just go to the net hard and do the work in the corners. It's paying off right now,'' Klatt said.
Kings coach Andy Murray said despite the successful road trip, he knows it could have been even better.
``We certainly should have had points in all three games,'' Murray said, ``but I'd rather be going back with four points than without any.''
While Los Angeles is still without two of its top forwards -- Jason Allison and Adam Deadmarsh -- it also will be missing captain Mattias Norstrom on Wednesday. Norstrom has a bruised shoulder, but expects to return Saturday against Boston.
In a matchup between two of the NHL's top teams Saturday, the Red Wings beat the Senators 3-2 on Nicklas Lidstrom's power-play goal 2:52 into overtime.
It was the third power-play goal of the game allowed by Ottawa, which killed all four short-handed situations in a 5-2 season-opening victory over Montreal.
A strong Ottawa team should be even better Wednesday with the return of right wing Martin Havlat, who signed a one-year contract Saturday after missing the first two games. Havlat set career highs with 24 goals, 35 assists and 59 points last season. NFL Tickets
``It makes us a much stronger club,'' Senators general manager John Muckler said. ``I thought our club was strong without him but we're much stronger with him, there's no question.''
STANDINGS (through Oct. 13): Senators - 3 points, 1st place, Northeast Division. Kings - 4 points, 1st place (tied), Pacific Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Senators - Jason Spezza, 2 goals; Daniel Alfredsson and Marian Hossa, 2 assists; Alfredsson and Spezza, 3 points; Chris Neil, 9 PIM. Kings - Klatt, 3 goals; Jozef Stumpel, 3 assists; Palffy and Klatt, 4 points; Sean Avery, 8 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 13): Senators - Power play: 37.5 percent (3 for 8), 3rd in NHL. Penalty killing: 75.0 percent (9 for 12), 24th. Kings - Power play: 13.3 percent (2 for 15), 19th. Penalty killing: 69.2 percent (9 for 13), 27th.
GOALTENDERS: Senators - Patrick Lalime (1-1-0, 0 SO, 2.45 GAA); Martin Prusek (no appearances). Kings - Cechmanek (1-1-0, 2.50); Cristobal Huet (1-0-0, 1, 0.00). NFL Tickets
2002-03 SEASON SERIES: Kings, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Jan. 30; Kings, 3-0. At Los Angeles, Jamie Storr, now with Carolina, stopped 18 shots, as the Kings extended their unbeaten streak against the Senators.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Senators - 0-0-0-0 on the road; Kings - 0-0-0-0 at home.