Goaltender LaBarbera Gets Little Help in Rocky Return

GLENDALE, Ariz. â€”  Goaltender Jason LaBarbera’s return to the lineup was difficult to evaluate.

LaBarbera was playing his first game since facing Washington on Dec. 14. He made a handful of quality saves, was hung out like laundry too often and gave up six goals in a 6-5 overtime loss to Phoenix on Thursday.

“It was pretty hectic out there,� said LaBarbera, who made only his fifth start since Nov. 9. “But I can’t give up six goals.�

The Kings didn’t seem to help much. They gave up three power-play goals and often let Coyote players freely skate through the slot.

“It was tough to get a read on how he played, when we give up that many power plays,� Coach Andy Murray said.

But LaBarbera, who is trying to get back to the form he displayed when he won his first five games this season, was his own worst critic.

“I felt fine physically,� said LaBarbera, who made 20 saves. “But I didn’t make the saves I had to to help us win.�

*

The Kings lost center Eric Belanger, who said he re-injured his groin in the second period. Belanger missed two games just before Christmas because of the injury.

The team placed defenseman Aaron Miller on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 22, because of a back injury. Forward George Parros sat out Thursday’s game after aggravating an ankle injury Wednesday against Colorado.

*

Derek Armstrong’s hat trick Thursday was the fifth for the Kings this season, the most by a team in the NHL. Thirty-one players have scored three goals in a game this season; the five Kings who’ve done it are Armstrong, Lubomir Visnovsky, Pavol Demitra, Craig Conroy and Alexander Frolov. ... Michael Cammalleri’s second-period goal extended his goal-scoring streak to five games. He has eight goals in the last 10 games.