Pacific Division notebook:

October 29. Mark the date.

That was the last time the Kings were in first place in the Pacific Division which, considering the team’s recent history, is considerably late in the season. Since then, the San Jose Sharks have raced out with their typical November fury to capture first place, while the Kings have been stuck in a holding pattern at 5-5-0.

This isn’t the first time the young club has faced adversity since Dean Lombardi began restocking the organizational cupboards. It is, however, the first adversity they have faced in a season portending more than just an outside shot at the playoffs.

“The crowd’s ready to cheer for us, I think. They’re ready to explode, and we're not giving them the effort we need to to win games,” center Anze Kopitar said following a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

The Kings have clearly been hindered by the absence of Ryan Smyth, Kopitar’s left wing who had scored 23 points in 22 games before going down with an upper-body injury. Smyth missed games this week against Philadelphia and Calgary, both losses, and could be sidelined up to four weeks.

Losing veteran defenseman Rob Scuderi and center Jarret Stoll to lower-body injuries — both in the past week, along with Smyth — may further expose the Kings’ depth. Aside from defenseman Randy Jones, a waiver-wire steal who has two goals and four points in six games, there are few veterans around who seem ready to pick up the scoring slack.

The Kings may call upon one of several prospects waiting in the wings for a solid AHL club, and their 25-year-old captain, to help rally the troops.

“Obviously you want Smitty in the lineup,” Dustin Brown said Saturday. “But everyone else and I should be lighting up, getting excited, bringing energy to the game.”

ANAHEIM

Corey Perry’s 14-game point streak is the longest in the NHL. He’s got nine goals and 20 points during that span. … Linemate Ryan Getzlaf had 22 assists at week’s end, second in the league. … It’s not quite from the doghouse to the penthouse, but Evgeny Artyukhin enjoyed his second-line minutes Thursday and Saturday, less than a week after being benched for taking one of 10 minor penalties he’s committed this season. “I’m so happy. It’s really good for me, so I can show some things.” … MacGregor Sharp made his NHL debut Thursday against Tampa Bay, skating as the fourth-line center between George Parros and Mike Brown. Parros, writing on his blog at LATimes.com, said “unfortunately for Sharpy, he lost the linemate lottery and played on my line, which tends to reduce a player's chances of recording a point. I think he will be around for a bit so we are going to work on that, though.” … Additional x-rays Saturday on the right foot of C Ryan Carter revealed a fracture. The injury, which will force him out of the lineup for an additional four weeks, was sustained when he was struck in the foot during practice.

DALLAS

James Neal was suspended for two games for his hit Thursday on Columbus’ Derek Dorsett, which is believed to have given the Jackets’ forward a concussion. Dorsett’s response? “I know (Neal) knew what he was doing,” he told the Columbus Dispatch. “I know the type of player he is. I've played against him in junior hockey and in the Memorial Cup. I know what kind of person he is, and I know what his intention was. He can say he's sorry I was hurt. He can say he was going too fast to stop. But there was no attempt to slow down. If anything, he sped up and drove right through the hit, his elbow into the back of my head. He can say whatever he wants, but that's a really cheap hit.” … Watch the video of Brad May’s disallowed goal Wednesday in Detroit, which would have tied the game 2-2, but instead was waved off in the Stars’ 3-1 win over the Red Wings. … D Stephane Robidas recorded a career-high four points (two goals, two assists) in a 5-3 win over New Jersey on Saturday. … At week’s end, Brenden Morrow was tied for Sidney Crosby for the league lead in minor penalties (15).

SAN JOSE

Todd McLellan’s decision to play leading scorers Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley together against Philadelphia may have been even more consequential than the coach imagined. The line combined for eight points in a 6-3 victory, prompting Don Cherry to propose the unit be named the No. 1 line for Team Canada. … Thornton got his 600th career assist in the win, one of four he contributed in the win. … D Marc-Eduoard Vlasic got into his first career fight Friday with the Flyers’ Danny Briere. … Evgeni Nabokov is 2-0 against the Ducks this season after going 2-4 against them in last season’s playoffs. Asked Saturday by a reporter in Anaheim to put his recent victories in the context of the Sharks’ most recent first-round playoff exit, the goalie said “Thanks for the reminder. So what does it mean? Honestly, I don’t like those questions.”

PHOENIX

Arizona Sen. John McCain, speaking at the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Phoenix Nov. 15, had quite a bit to say about the Coyotes. “I’m glad to see the Coyotes won (Saturday), and I hope they can stay,” he told the Arizona Republic. “I hope that the fans will come out. We’re going to have to increase the fan base, that’s all there is to it. I think winning takes us a long way. … I remember when they first came, Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick, ‘White Out’ in the desert, playoffs, Roenick with the broken jaw. Those were exciting times. … I admire and love Wayne Gretzky, don’t get me wrong, we all do. But I think if there’s been a shocking development in the league, it’s been the turnaround of the Coyotes in a very short period of time.” … Edmonton native David Schlemko was set to play his first game in his home town Monday for the Coyotes. “It’s going to be pretty nerve-racking, I’m sure, until I get those first couple of shifts under my belt … I think I am just going to try and enjoy it. It should be really exciting,” he told the team’s official Web site.

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