ANAHEIM, CA (September 14, 2007) -- Don't look now, but just four days into their 2007 training camp, the pre-season schedule has already begun for the Los Angeles Kings, and on Thursday night, they eked out a 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks in front of an announced crowd of 16,973 fans at Honda Center in Anaheim.

Right wing Kyle Calder led the way for the Kings with two goals, his first falling into the "spectacular" category as he flicked a backhand over the shoulder of Ducks goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov as he was being knocked down.

Calder was airborne and parallel to the ice when he got the shot off, beating a surprised and quite rusty Bryzgalov, who did not look sharp while allowing four goals on 18 shots in 30:19 of ice time.

Jean-Philippe Levassuer played the final 27:53 for the Ducks, allowing one goal--a soft one to Brian Willsie for the game-winner-- on 15 shots.

Forward prospects Gabe Gauthier and Matt Moulson also scored for the Kings, while Maxim Kondratiev, Mike Hoffman, Jason King and Dan LaCouture scored for the Ducks.

Thursday's contest was a rather sloppy, choppy game between two teams that were just a few days into their 2007 training camps...and they certainly looked like it.

Ducks star defenseman Chris Pronger was a step slow all night long, and wound up taking four minor penalties, three being the type of penalties one takes when they are beaten on a play.

The two teams combined for twenty penalties and 48 penalty minutes, with the Ducks taking twelve penalties for 32 penalty minutes.

That lack of discipline by the Ducks proved costly, as the Kings converted twice on twelve power play opportunities.

The Ducks scored once on six power play chances.

But in the pre-season, wins and losses generally take a back seat to evaluation of a team's players, and that was first and foremost on the mind of Kings head coach Marc Crawford.

"I thought for a first game, and on such short notice for a first game, it was a pretty good outing," said Crawford. "We were really pleased with our young defensemen. [Jack] Johnson was very good tonight and [Brian] Boyle showed that he can play on defense in this league. It's going to take him some time, he's going to need some seasoning, but we're pleased with where he is. I think that he's close."

Boyle may be close, but being converted to defenseman after playing at center all his life is not going to be easy, and it is certainly unlikely that it will happen in a few weeks of pre-season games. And although Boyle did not look out of place, on several shifts, he displayed the indecisiveness and hesitation one might expect from a player learning a new position, especially as a defenseman.

Indeed, there were a few instances in the game where he hesitated when he had the puck, or when the Ducks were on the rush. And at the National Hockey League level, if you hesitate for a moment, the opposition will blow right past you.

"I was just trying to be as calm as I could with the puck," said Boyle. "It was tough with a little pressure--it's the first time I suited up in a Kings jersey."

"As the game progressed, I was thinking a lot less and just reacting," added Boyle. "I just kind of took it all in and I was trying to keep everything simple."

Boyle may have made some mistakes in the game, but he knew he would, given his acute lack of experience, and that he must learn from them.

"I was bound to make some mistakes out there, but I had to reset my mind--clear my head for each shift," he explained. I try not to second-guess myself. I just try to do what I know now. I have a lot more to learn. I just tried to do what I've heard that I've been able to do well. I didn't try to do too much that I haven't felt comfortable doing. I just tried to go out and react."

Boyle was tested by Crawford in all situations--even strength, power play and penalty-kill. He was even sent out on the ice when the Ducks had a two-man advantage in the second period, even though the Kings have not yet practiced their five-on-three penalty-killing in camp.

Boyle managed to hold his own, and even blocked a shot.

"Rob Blake was just kind of telling me where to go," said Boyle. "I didn't know exactly how to play it--we didn't practice it. It was good. I was glad [the shot] hit me. He didn't get all of it."

As the forwards go, Crawford also saw some things that he liked.

"Up front, it was a game where a couple of the top players really played great," said Crawford. "Their power play was dangerous because of top players like Pronger and [Ryan] Getzlaf who are premier power play guys. [Alexander] Frolov, [Lubomir] Visnovsky and Blake are premier guys for us."

"When you get into a lot of power plays in a game and had the ice been good tonight, there would've been a lot more goals," added Crawford. "It was a real solid effort. I liked the way we got to see a lot of our players. The idea of seeing players play in the positions they'll take if they get here, with the exception of [forward prospect Wayne] Simmonds, who I thought was really good tonight, everybody played in their position, and they played in the manner in which they'd be used when and if they get here."

Crawford even liked his goaltenders, Dan Cloutier and Jean-Sebastien Aubin.

"I thought that our goaltenders made some good saves," said Crawford. "I didn't like the way Cloutier handled the puck behind the net, and I didn't like the carelessness by our defense with the puck behind the net a few times. We gave up a couple of chances in that crucial area. Anaheim's a great forechecking team and you have to prepare yourself for that happening in the game."

"On our 5-on-3 kill, Aubin made two or three really crucial saves and may have been the difference in the game. So it was a very positive night for our goaltending."

But the story in goal for the Kings was how Cloutier would perform after a horrendous 2006-07 season and coming off of major hip surgery.

Cloutier wound up allowing three goals on ten shots, which would be considered a poor showing under normal circumstances. But Cloutier looked considerably quicker and more mobile than at any time last season when he would have been unable to stop a beach ball.

"I just wanted to get back out there," said Cloutier, who started the game and played for the first 31:25. "It felt better than I thought, it's been such a long time. In training camp, we haven't seen a whole lot of practice or a whole lot of shots."

Much to the surprise of many, Cloutier made a good save early in the first period, moving across his crease to stop a point-blank chance at the left goal post--something he could not have done last season because of injury.

In fact, Cloutier revealed earlier in the week that he was never healthy last season.

"Just from my movement I feel a lot better physically," he said. "I don't have my hip locking up on me when I'm going across.

Cloutier also stopped two breakaways in the game, and on the goals he allowed, he was screened on Kondratiev's goal at 14:44 of the first period, he was beaten on a wrap-around by Hoffman just seven seconds into the second period, and then he had no chance on a one-timer from the left face-off dot by LaCouture at 9:02 of the second period.

Cloutier acknowledged that he had trouble with two of the goals, explaining that because he has played in so few games over the last few years, he knew he would have trouble finding the puck through traffic and with plays from behind the net.

But his performance gave him reason to be optimistic.

"Obviously, those are not great numbers--play half a game and let in three goals, but at the same time, I'm very happy that I had a chance to play," said Cloutier. "Everything will start to improve. Hopefully, I'll get full games next couple of times so I can work on things and get comfortable. But it was really nice to be out there tonight."

As for Aubin, he looked solid in his 28:33 of ice time, allowing one goal off a deflection on 18 shots.

* * *

ZEILER MOVING TO CENTER?

If you were in attendance at the Honda Center on Thursday night, you saw rugged forward John Zeiler centering the Kings' fourth line.

No, you were not hallucinating.

Indeed, the Kings tried Zeiler at the center position, and he held his own, despite getting his clock cleaned very early in the first period on a clean hit by Ducks forward prospect Matt Beleskey.

"We need someone in that position, and it will be a hotly-contested position this year," said Crawford. "Candidates are going to be Brady Murray, Jeff Giuliano--we'll try Zeiler there. You also want to give some consideration to the younger guys like Marc-Andre Cliche, Trevor Lewis and Gabe Gauthier."

DEFENSE MUST IMPROVE

Although the Kings upgraded their offense with the acquisition of center Michal Handzus and winger Ladislav Nagy in July, the area in need of the most improvement is in their defensive zone.

"I hope you see a big upgrade in our defensive game," said Crawford. "Where we have to improve is that our goals against has to come down. We can't hope to be in the playoffs if we don't get our goals against down."

Indeed, the Kings ranked 27th in the NHL in goals against last season, allowing 3.38 goals per game, and they gave up 57 more goals than the Calgary Flames, who earned the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference in 2006-07.

"We need to improve our penalty-killing, we have to be better there. If we limit shots against, it's common sense that we should have less chances against us. Our goaltending has to improve and our coverage has to be better as well."

CAMMALLERI LOOKING AHEAD

Forward Michael Cammalleri has looked sharp in camp, and was eager to get back on the ice after a long off-season.

"I feel real good," he said. "Legs are burning a bit. Lots of workouts, lots of bike rides, but it's good. It feels great to be out there again. I really like the way my cardio and strength is. Now it's just about getting the timing back."

"It's the most fun of anything I do--playing hockey, so I love being out there again."

Cammalleri said that he was pleased with the upgrades to the Kings roster during the off-season.

"We've definitely done a good job in upgrading and trying to be more competitive," said Cammalleri. "You look at the roster and think this could be something special."

And if he is bitter about the way his salary arbitration case went this summer, he certainly isn't showing it...or talking much about it.

"It was what it was," he explained. "I knew what I was getting into going in, and so did [the Kings]. That's really all I have to say about it. We're here now to play hockey and it doesn't change the way I play the game at all. That will be extremely evident for everybody watching."

HAPPY CAMPER

Visnovsky was clearly a happy camper on Wednesday when he did something he rarely ever does.

He met with the media for an interview.

The normally reserved Visnovsky usually shies away from the media because he lacked confidence in his mastery of the English language.

But on Wednesday, Visnovsky was not only speaking to reporters, but was laughing and joking around with them as well.

After suffering a broken ankle at the end of last season, Visnovsky said that he is back at 100 percent, but then quipped, "for the first game in the NHL, you're 100 percent. In the second game it's 99 percent and then it's less and less."

OK...so you had to be there. But the point is, Visnovsky meeting with the media, let alone joking around with a group of reporters, was previously unheard of.

Perhaps the reason for Visnovsky being so happy was that he was rewarded by the Kings with a five-year contract back in July.

"For me, it was good that I have five more years where I can focus just on hockey as opposed to my career," he said.

"I want to help this team win. I look back two or three years ago, maybe there are five guys from back then," he elaborated. "It's a new team. There's a lot of young prospects with a few veterans. But there's good chemistry. I'm happy that I got a five-year deal. I'm very happy because I've improved every season."

Another likely reason is that he now has not one, but two teammates from back home in Handzus and Nagy.

"It's better for me, because we speak the same language," said Visnovsky. "It's good to go on the road and speak to someone in my own language. Or sometimes if we lose the game, we can discuss [it]."

CAPTAIN COMES HOME

Just prior to the opening of training camp, the Kings brought former Kings defenseman and captain Dave Lewis back home.

Lewis, who played four seasons with the Kings from 1979-83 and was the team captain from 1981-83, was hired as an assistant coach on August 28.

"It's exciting [to be back with the Kings]," said Lewis, who spent seven seasons as an assistant coach and five seasons as associate coach with the Detroit Red Wings, earning three Stanley Cup Championships. "Going through most of the summer not sure what I was going to do--I really had plans on doing nothing. Marc called me late July or early August. Initially, I said that I had to think about it a bit. I slept on it, my wife asked, 'what are you doing?' The rest is history."

"We had some conversations," added Lewis, who became Detroit's head coach in 2002-03, after the retirement of legendary head coach Scotty Bowman. "[Kings associate coach] Mike Johnson also called me, and I met [Kings President/General Manager] Dean [Lombardi] in Boston. Everything was very positive. The biggest reason I'm out here is my relationship with Marc, working at some of the All-Star games we worked together."

Lewis, who was fired on June 15, 2007 after just one season as head coach of the Boston Bruins, has only been with the Kings players for a very short time, but he already likes what he sees and is getting acclimated.

"I see guys who are really keen, really eager," he said. "What impresses me most is the attention to detail. When you do that, it's a lot of work, but the rewards are huge. That's a very good sign, especially in training camp."

"There's a ways to go, but every team has a ways to go," he added. "Some good young kids were here during the prospects week, and now the pros are here. So I'm learning a lot of new faces."

"I just want to help. I just want to do anything I can to help the players, help the coaching staff do what we have to do to win hockey games. I want to teach, I want to inform, I want to enlighten, I want to support--all the things that are necessary for your team to win, that's what I want to do."

Familiarity with the franchise and the area certainly helped bring Lewis back into the fold.

"I had a great experience out here, my daughter was born out here," he explained. "There's a personal connection, I have emotional ties, I know some people here. So all those things helped in the decision. I think if it had been another location, I might have just held off for awhile because coaching is a grind. But that was one of the biggest things."

ROSTER CUTS COMING SOON

With the accelerated and compressed training camp schedule, roster cuts will come quickly...as soon as this weekend or on Monday.

"We'll probably send a lot of the junior guys back this weekend--our first cuts will be Sunday or Monday," Crawford explained. "Then we'll continue to trim it down pretty quickly next week. We leave after our game on September 18, and we don't come back until October 1. We won't carry everybody throughout. Going to Europe, we're only going to carry 25 players."

BLAKE TO BE NAMED CAPTAIN

Although it was a foregone conclusion as soon as defenseman and then- team captain Mattias Norstrom was dealt to the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline last season, Hockeytalk.biz learned on Thursday that Rob Blake will be named as the Kings captain.

There has been no official confirmation from the Kings, but this is as official as you can get without an official announcement.

There has been no word regarding who will be named as assistant captains for the 2007-08 season.

Gann Matsuda is a Los Angeles native and has followed the Los Angeles Kings since 1973. His days covering the Kings began in the mid-80's when he wrote game stories and news and notes pieces on various online services (GEnie, National Videotex Network and eWorld), before moving to e-mail lists and the World Wide Web. He has been the news editor for the Online Kingdom (http://www.kingshockey.com) since 1995, and has also covered professional hockey players of Japanese descent for the Rafu Shimpo (Los Angeles Japanese Daily News) since  2001.

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GANN MATSUDA'S KINGS NOTES 2007-08

Camp Underway (Sept 10, 2007)