Johnson out
Jack Johnson sustained an ``upper-extremity injury'' -- please don't get me started about this terminology -- late in the first period and will not return tonight. He took one shift in the second period and tried to play but couldn't go. I'll try to get an update after the game.

Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at 

Never saw one decent scoring chance in the third period. Pathetic.