Finally, the Y2Kings are here. The dreaded December doldrums are behind. What can we expect from them in the new Millennium? In the past 11 years, the Kings have had only one winning December - the 89-90 season (see below), where the Kings went 7-4-2. Since that time, they have averaged just three wins in the month of December. It doesn't matter if the Kings are healthy or if they are racked with injuries. They traditionally fare poorly in the month of December, and generally are taken out of the race completely by the beginning of each January.

In the present Millennium, with a new coach at the helm, and a surefire "star" in the line-up, the only difference with this slump in December is that the Kings are not exactly out of the race. Although at one point the Kings were the top dog in the NHL, they now sit at the bottom of the Pacific Division, albeit the toughest division in the league. A mere 4 points separates the Kings from the first place Coyotes, but it is anyone's call who will wind up the Pacific Division winner. In only the first three months of this season, three teams have held the Pacific Division lead at one time or another, and that did not include last year's Stanley Cup winner, the Dallas Stars.

The Kings have dropped from first to seventh overall; the Detroit Red Wings being the only team outdistancing the pack in the Western Conference. If the playoffs were held today, every team in the Pacific Division would make the playoffs. Not a bad place to be, if you ask me. With only Jason Blake, Jamie Storr and Gary Galley on injured reserve, the Kings have their star players back in the line-up and healthy. Coach Andy "Sarge" Murray has managed to avoid Larry Robinson's favorite ploy. The ever changing line, by keeping the lines as intact as possible during the injury plagued month of December. A minor tweaking of the lines in Thursday's December 30th rout of the Edmonton Oilers may have done the trick, placing Robitaille on the second line with Smolinski and Murray, and putting Pretzel Boy on the first line with Stumpel and Palffy. Both lines were productive in the Kings 1000th win, launching them into the Millennium with positive momentum.

Defense has been solid, even if it appeared to have been non-existent in this fabled month of losses. Jere Karalahti gives the Kings another hard, right hand shot off the point, as well as an additional threat on the power play. With December officially behind them, let's look to the future of Y2K and hope that the Y2Kings move up the ranks with an exhibition of the offensive power and defensive skill still apparent in this team.

Los Angeles Kings's December Record

• 99-00 12 games, 3-7-2
• 98-99 13 games, 6-7-0
• 97-98 13 games, 4-7-2
• 96-97 13 games, 3-9-1
• 95-96 12 games, 3-5-4
• 94-95 no games in December (Lock out)
• 93-94 13 games, 5-7-1
• 92-93 13 games, 4-7-2
• 91-92 11 games, 3-7-1
• 90-91 12 games, 3-7-2
• 89-90 13 games, 7-4-2