EL SEGUNDO — You don’t have to remind the Kings about being ready mentally and physically to play the first game after the NHL-mandated bye week. They saw first-hand what can happen when a team isn’t prepared to play after a five-day break from practice and games.
The Kings routed the Florida Panthers on Feb. 9 in Sunrise, Fla., and it wasn’t even close. After getting outscored 10-1 in the first three games of a four-game trip leading into their bye week, the Kings erupted for six goals in a little more than one period en route to a 6-3 victory.
The Calgary Flames, locked in a battle for a wild-card spot with the Kings, followed the trend around the league Monday by returning from their break in time to get hammered 5-0 by the last-place Arizona Coyotes. Overall, teams are a collective 3-8-1 in their first games back after the bye week.
It’s not as if highly trained players lose their fitness after only five days away from the rink, but their timing and feel for the game can disappear within days as rustiness outweighs the benefits of rest, recovery and relaxation.
“We’re experienced, but not many guys have had a five-day break and gone to Mexico or wherever,” Kings right wing Dustin Brown said. “Ultimately, it comes down to the mental side of it. You’ll feel better as the game goes along, but if you’re not sharp mentally right from the get-go …”
Brown didn’t finish the thought. He and the Kings went back to work mentally and physically Wednesday in preparation of Thursday’s home date with the Coyotes. The Kings skated for nearly an hour at their practice facility, hoping for better results than other teams around the league after the break.
“If we can make it a work game as opposed to a skill game, it’s better for us,” Brown said.
Gilbert traded to Caps
The Kings dealt defenseman Tom Gilbert to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a conditional fifth-trade pick in the June 23-24 draft. The Kings assigned Gilbert to the Ontario Reign of the AHL after he cleared waivers Feb. 2.
The Kings are retaining 20 percent of Gilbert’s $1.4-million contract for 2016-17, and would get nothing in return if the Capitals fail to advance past the second round of the playoffs and Gilbert doesn’t play in half of their postseason games. The Capitals assigned Gilbert to Hershey of the AHL.
Transactions (Part 2)
The Kings recalled left wing Adrian Kempe and defenseman Paul LaDue from the Reign. Kempe is expected to make his NHL debut Thursday against the Coyotes. LaDue made his debut Feb. 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Transactions (Part 3)
Right wing Devin Setoguchi reported to the Reign after clearing waivers and was expected to play in Wednesday’s game against the Iowa Wild in Ontario. Setoguchi dismissed a report that he wouldn’t report to Ontario as “rumors” in an interview posted on the Reign’s website.
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