Game 21: Kings 2, Oilers 1

So after losing an out-right ass-whooping at the hands of the Flames, the Kings rebounded nice, with a solid effort against the Oilers, 2-1.

The top line didn't disappoint, with Patrick O'Sullivan and Anze Kopitar each tallying a goal and an assist. Could it be that Kopitar is finally starting to get going? Could it have something to do with, um, I don't know, actually shooting the puck?

Through Thursday (Happy Thanksgiving, Hockeywood!) Kopitar has 50 shots, second to Brown's 94. Now this might look like Kopitar is looking to pass more now this season under Murray's offense. But truth be told, Kopitar actually has more shots through 21 games than last season.

In a somewhat surprising move, Murray started LaBarbera in place of Ersberg. Turns out, Murray had planned it all along. Not too sure if that's entirely true, but I'm sure Erik could use a rest. Jason played well, grabbing his first win since Oct. 24.

• AP: LaBarbera leads Kings past Oilers

"From our perspective it was important to come back from our effort in Calgary," Kings coach Terry Murray said. "We came out with that kind of an attitude that we had to get some kind of redemption. We had to go out and show ourselves that we were going to dig in and play hard."

• Canadian Press: Kopitar scores winner as L.A. Kings rule Oilers 2-1

Patrick O'Sullivan and Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist apiece as the Los Angeles Kings snapped a two-game losing skid, securing a 2-1 victory and handing the Oilers yet another loss at home on Wednesday night. Ales Hemsky had the lone goal for the Oilers, who lost their second straight and fifth in their last six contests.

Looking through purple-hued glasses

• A Queen Among Kings: One up and one down in western Canada

The view from the other side of the ice: the Edmonton view

• Edmonton Sun: Oilers roundly booed in listless 2-1 loss to L.A.

Oilers fans waited five days for this?

The most alarming defeat of the season?

When a road team that just got pounded the night before has more jump than a home team that spent the last five days getting rested up and fired up for what was supposed to be a breakout game, it’s cause for serious concern.

• Edmonton Sun: Garon sits ... again

• Edmonton Sun: Oilers didn't 'discard' Stoll and Greene: MacT


Kings-related news

• Denver Post: Dean Lombardi doesn’t think John Zeiler’s near maiming of Adam Foote deserved a suspension

• The Battle for California: 20 games in

• The Royal Half: Turkey Blues - 20 Games In

• Sportsnet.ca: The king of Kings

Watch the Los Angeles Kings for a while, and it's enough to make you wonder.

Are the Toronto Maple Leafs hiring the right California GM?

It was a nice bit of finishing carpentry that Brian Burke did with the Anaheim Ducks, inheriting a job that had nearly been finished with a trip to the Finals two seasons before he arrived, then changing the blueprint enough to finally to bring the first Stanley Cup to California since the Kings joined the National Hockey League in 1967.

• Edmonton Journal: Elite goalies not part of Kings' men

Overall, the Kings have used 61 different goalies since they came into the NHL in1967, even Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk in the twilight of his career and cantankerous Hall of Famer Billy Smith at the start of his NHL days.