David J. Phillip - AP

You suck, you jackass! (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

View full size photo »

Everything stinks.  The Dodgers, the Kings, the Trojans, and I don't who the Galaxy are but I'm sure they stink too.*  The Kings got worked by the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team that is pretty much a carbon copy of the Kings except they are deeper and are more committed to their system.  It's disappointing because the Blue Jackets are a team the Kings must be better than if they hope to make the playoffs but right now they aren't.  That was disheartening.

*I do know who the Galaxy are because I'm one of those crazy people that can enjoy soccer but it's hilarious that the Galaxy have more ties than wins... and they're in first place.

Terry Murray made his first big shake-up of the forward lines in the latter part of the third period against the Blue Jackets, putting Frolov with Stoll and Brown, Purcell with Handzus and Trevor Lewis, and Wayne Simmonds (who has escaped scrutiny despite a lackluster start) on the 4th line.  The idea was to create two solid scoring lines and it kind of worked; Frolov and Brown did managed to create a few opportunities, although they were ultimately unsuccessful in finishing any chances.*  The Kings have 3 fairly solid defensive lines but they don't have any scoring coming from any line besides Kopitar's.  They need to get scoring from those lines or they look... well, they like last year.

*Frolov and Brown are like Zach Galifianakis and Robin Williams:  Galifianakis will only tell 7 jokes in a 90-minute set but they'll all be hilarious and you'll wonder why he doesn't tell more, while Williams will tell 300 jokes and only 7 of them will be funny.

The Dallas Stars... do people still give a rat's ass about the Dallas Stars?  No?  Whew, makes my job easier.  Anyway, Brad Richards is out tonight, so good?

Prediction: Kings win, 3-1.  Goals by Kopitar (x3), who says, "Jesus guys, I could use a little help."