Bylsma Helping Penalty Killing

Before Montreal’s Vincent Damphousse scored a first-period power-play goal Saturday night at the Forum, the Kings had killed 36 of their last 39 man-disadvantages to move from 22nd in the league to 15th.

One reason for their improved penalty killing has been the play of forward Dan Bylsma, who was recalled from the Long Beach Ice Dogs on Oct. 16.

With Bylsma back in the lineup and teamed with Ian Laperriere, Coach Larry Robinson said before Saturday’s game that the Kings are almost back to last season’s level of play when the Kings finished third in the NHL.

“At the start of the season, Dan wasn’t here [and the Kings’ penalty kill struggled],” Robinson said. “He plays well with Lappy and they are effective in killing the first part of the penalty.”

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For the 18th consecutive game, the Kings failed to lead after the first period when the Canadiens led, 2-0, after the first 20 minutes of play. Out of the 18 games, the Kings have also failed to score first in 13 of them.

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When Damphousse scored three consecutive goals in the first 23:39, it was the first hat trick given up by the Kings this season. Yanic Perreault’s three goals in a win at Detroit earlier this season is the Kings’ only hat trick. . . . Montreal goaltender Andy Moog started but suffered a right knee sprain on a first-period play near the right post of the Canadiens’ goal. Moog stayed in the game until the second period when he was replaced at 11:49 by Jocelyn Thibault, who started Friday night in Montreal’s 4-3 victory at San Jose.

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Russ Courtnall, who signed with the Kings as an unrestricted free agent on Friday, has been cleared to practice with the team and will wear No. 19. Robinson said Courtnall will help the Kings’ defense up front.

“He really didn’t get enough credit for the defensive role he played at Montreal and with Dallas as well,” Robinson said. “I think that he prides himself to play good defense. He’ll continue to play a two-way game with us.”

Robinson also said Courtnall will play some point on the Kings’ power play.