(My Sportsbook) - The
Los Angeles Kings will skate in North America for the first time in this regular season tonight, when they host the
St. Louis Blues at the Staples Center.
The Kings split a two-game series with the Anaheim Ducks in London, England last weekend, winning the opener 4-1 on Saturday before falling 4-1 the following day.
Michael Cammalleri scored the lone goal on Sunday for the Kings, while goaltender Jason LaBarbera ended with 21 saves. Derek Armstrong and Patrick O'Sullivan assisted on Cammalleri's goal. It was O'Sullivan's second helper of the season, while Cammalleri now has three goals on the young season.
With netminder Jean-Sebastien Aubin now on injured reserve due to a groin injury, the Kings will be going with LaBarbera and Jonathan Bernier in net. Bernier made his first career start in last Saturday's win.
The Blues will play their second road contest in as many games this season, and fell to Phoenix 3-2 on Thursday.
Keith Tkachuk picked up a goal and an assist while Bradley Boyes scored once for the Blues, who are home for two straight games starting on Wednesday against Nashville.
The game marked a nice return to the Blues roster for Tkachuk, who was traded to Atlanta before the deadline last year before rejoining the club this offseason.
Big summer pickup Paul Kariya fired five shots on net in his St. Louis debut, and added an assist to go along with four penalty minutes.
Manny Legace, who had his season cut short last year because of arthroscopic knee surgery, stopped 31-of-34 shots in the loss.
The Blues could debut veteran forward Mike Johnson tonight after signing him on Thursday after he impressed the club during a tryout stint before the season.
The Blues took the season series with the Kings 3-1 last year, winning three straight after dropping five in a row to Los Angeles going back to the 2005-06 season. St. Louis, though, has won nine of its last 14 meetings with LA and snapped a three-game road losing streak with a win at the Staples Center last year.