Saturday, Sept. 23, 2006 | 7:39 a.m.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche
What: NHL preseason game
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena
Tickets: $25 to $200; 474-4000 or ticketmaster.com
1. Kings up
With the NHL's preseason under way, the Los Angeles Kings are set to make their annual appearance in Las Vegas for an exhibition hockey game at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Kings take on the Colorado Avalanche tonight in the ninth "Frozen Fury" matchup - an event that has taken place at the venue each year since 1997, with the exception of the strike season of 2004. "The Kings have always been our main partner," MGM spokesman Scott Ghertner said, with Colorado their frequent foil. The Phoenix Coyotes and San Jose Sharks have also made cameos.
2. Hot ticket
A crowd of 8,224 attended the inaugural game in the series, watching the Kings edge Colorado 4-3 on an overtime goal by Donald MacLean. The game has since established itself as a popular draw among hockey fans. "Except for a couple of years at the beginning, we've sold out pretty much every year since it started," Ghertner said. Another full house of 12,000 is expected tonight. "We're getting very close, and I anticipate a sellout," he said.
3. 'Frozen' treat
As part of an emotion-filled preseason a year ago in which fans warmly embraced the NHL's return, the Kings and Avalanche put on a good show for a sellout crowd of 12,074 in "Frozen Fury 8." The Avs scored a short-handed goal by Antti Laaksonen, then secured a 2-1 victory 57 seconds into overtime on a slapshot goal by Steve Konowalchuk.
4. L.A.'s story
After missing the playoffs for the third season in a row, the Kings brought aboard Dean Lombardi as president and GM, and Marc Crawford, who guided the Avalanche to the 1996 Stanley Cup championship, as head coach. They traded for goalie Dan Cloutier and signed former Norris Trophy winner Rob Blake, who joins standout defensemen Lubomir Visnovsky and Mattias Norstrom. The Kings' top offensive threats are Mike Cammalleri (26 goals, 29 assists), Craig Conroy (22, 44) and Alexander Frolov (21, 33).
5. Avalanche warning
Colorado made the second round of the playoffs last season but sustained crucial losses in Blake (free agency) and second-leading scorer Alex Tanguay (traded to Calgary). A solid offense is anchored by veteran Joe Sakic (32 goals, 55 assists) and right winger Marek Svatos, who scored 32 goals in 61 games as a rookie.
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