What do LA hockey players do with free time in NYC? Comedy

The Kings and New Jersey Devils take the ice about 5 p.m. for today's second game of the Stanley Cup Final. Game 2 will be televised nationally by NBC and be on the radio here on AM 1150 and AM 570. No lineup changes for either team. The Devils will have Arlette sing the national anthem again. If the Kings win and take a 2-0 lead in the series, it will be the farthest the franchise has ever gone in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Here are the official game notes from the Kings.

The Prudential Center arena in Newark is noticeably colder today than it was for Game 1, Kings blogger Rich Hammond says. Players had complained that the slushy ice surface was a factor in the first game, contributing to errant passes, slow pucks and feet, and a build-up of loose "snow." Both teams skated lightly this morning, then typically would go back to their hotels for the afternoon — or home, for the Devils, if they are staying with their families. In previous series, the Kings moved their players into Downtown hotels near Staples Center to help keep them focused on their jobs. I assume they will continue that practice when the series moves home to LA this week.

Colin Fraser, the Kings forward who scored the first goal of the Final, is writing a diary for NHL.com about the final round. On Thursday night, he writes, the Kings went into Manhattan as a team.

Last night in the evening, the whole team went into the city to Caroline's, a comedy club. We watched J.B. Smoove, the guy [Leon Black] from Curb Your Enthusiasm. He was the main act. It was nice to hang out and relax a little bit. After that we came back to the hotel.

The Kings won Game 1 on an overtime goal by Anze Kopitar.

Photo: Rich Hammond