NHL cancels games through Dec. 30

Luca Sbisa of the Ducks gets checked into the boards by Mike Richards of the Kings last December at Staples Center. A game between the two teams scheduled for later this month was among ones canceled by the NHL on Monday.

By Lisa Dillman

Dec. 10, 2012 12 AM PT

The dribs and drabs -- almost like an annoying dripping faucet -- have taken a large toll.

Hockey’s labor dispute has now accounted for the loss of 42.8% of the NHL season, 526 regular-season games. The NHL announced on Monday the cancellation of games through Dec. 30 because of the absence of a new collective bargaining agreement.

This means the loss of eight more games for the reigning Stanley Cup champion Kings, including three home dates at Staples Center. They were to have played at Ottawa on Dec. 15, Boston on Dec. 17, Detroit on Dec. 18 and San Jose on Dec. 20 before returning home to play the Sharks on Dec. 22 and the Coyotes on Dec. 26.

The other canceled games were at Phoenix on Dec. 27 and the Ducks at Staples Center on Dec. 29.

In addition to the game against the Kings, the Ducks will be losing six more games in the latest round of cuts. Only one was in Anaheim, Dec. 26 against the Sharks.

The Kings have had 37 games canceled, the Ducks 35.

This widely anticipated move was the biggest news on Monday as there have been no new round of talks officially scheduled since negotiations went off the rails last week. There have been informal discussions about possibly meeting later this week.

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