Early Success Earns Team Early Reward

The writing wasn’t on the wall. It was on a greaseboard.

The Kings were supposed to struggle without four of their top players in early season games against the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators, apparent set-ups for fatigue and failure more than stamina and success.

But the Kings returned to their locker room Wednesday night to find a rewarding two-word phrase on the greaseboard -- “Thursday off.�

There was rest for the cheery after Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators, a team picked by many to win the Eastern Conference, if not the Stanley Cup.

The Kings, off to a solid 3-1 start despite injuries at every position but goaltender, rattled off three consecutive goals to beat the Senators.

Luc Robitaille scored for the first time since rejoining the Kings. Ziggy Palffy, taking his temporary term as team captain seriously, had three assists. Alexander Frolov, his ice time almost halved because of a demotion from first to fourth line, scored the game-winner.

Not to mention the power-play efficiency, with three goals in nine tries against one of the league’s most physical defenses.

And yet, the enthusiasm is tempered. The results would be more satisfying if they weren’t so early in the season.

“It’s a measuring stick,� King Coach Andy Murray said. “We’ll get another one Saturday against Boston.�

Said Robitaille: “We just have to keep plugging away right now.�

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Former King center Bryan Smolinski did not have a point or a shot in 14:13 of ice time. Smolinski, who spoke of joining an organization that “wanted to win� a couple of months after being dealt to Ottawa last March, was humble after the game.

“I wanted to beat them and beat them bad.... They came back and did the little things that L.A. is known for doing,� he said.

Smolinksi’s loss was Tim Gleason’s gain, at least for one night. The Kings acquired the rights to the 20-year-old defenseman in the Smolinski trade.

“It’s pretty exciting to look over there, knowing that I know all the guys and have to battle against them,� said Gleason, who has helped solidify the King blue line while Mattias Norstrom and Aaron Miller are out.

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A memorial service for King director of corporate sponsorships Kevin Donovan will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Forest Lawn Mortuary in Long Beach. Donovan, 31, died Sunday of stomach cancer. Memorial donations can be made to Kings Care Foundation.

-- Mike Bresnahan