Time: Monday, December 28, 2009 at 10:30 PM ET
League: NHL – United States of America

Last 10 matches: Minnesota 6-4-0; Los Angeles 6-3-1
The Kings have not won a game in nearly two weeks. It’s not as bad as it sounds they had eight days off between losses in Calgary and Phoenix, but with those defeats and all that time off, they slipped from first in the Pacific Division to third. They also had to deal with an injury to a key player just as another returned to the lineup. Smyth came back against the Coyotes, his first game since mid-November, but Justin Williams broke his leg early in the game and will be sidelined indefinitely. Minnesota defenseman Brent Burns and forwards Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Petr Sykora are on injured reserve with concussions. Forward Robbie Earl is out due to flu-like symptoms, and forward Chuck Kobasew has a knee injury.

For Los Angeles, Williams is scheduled to see a doctor Monday, at which point a timeline for his injury could be known. Forward Jarret Stoll, on injured reserve with a groin injury, could start skating soon. Defenseman Randy Jones hasn’t played since Dec. 15 due to a neck injury.
Second of four meetings this season the teams play again in Minnesota on New Year’s Eve. Ryan Smyth scored a pair of goals as Los Angeles claimed a 6-3 win at the Staples Center on Oct. 8. That was part of a stretch in which the Wild lost their first eight road games to begin the season.
Backstrom has posted six wins and a 1.87 goals-against average in his last eight games. But he’s fared poorly in his recent history against the Kings, going 0-2-1 with a 3.10 GAA in his last four meetings, including a game in which he was pulled and ultimately didn’t get a decision. Goal’s highlights, results and more will be on site, as soon as posible.. stay tuned.