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Y E S T E R D A Y . . .

Ducks 3, Senators 1: Sorry to tell you, Ottawa, but a certain hockey team from sunny southern California absolutley owns you right now. By beating the Senators, the Ducks racked up their sixth straight victory. This game played out like many of last year’s Stanley Cup Final games: stifiling defense, dominating goaltending, and timely goals by a Ducks team that is beginning to look more and more like last year’s champs.

Sixers 106, Clippers 80: While the Ducks were busy winning their sixth the row, the Clips were playing something that appeared to be basketball in what was their sixth loss in a row. The problem in this one? Turnovers that led to 27 Sixers points. The Clippers should go after a veteran, free-agent PG. A guy who has big time experience, a guy who would eliminate so many mistakes, a guy who is a leader on and off court, a guy like Sam…..never mind.

T O D A Y . . .

Lakers at Kings (7:00 p.m. PST, KCAL HD): This game is what it must be like when Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera run into each other at an award show. The Lakers. playing the role of Christina Aguilera, hope to stay en fuego as they travel to Sacramento to take on their former equals, who have fallen on hard times. The Lakers surely won’t need Kobe to carry the load in this one like he did on Sunday, but a growing question is whether the Lakers are both mentally and physically tough enough for the rigors of playoff basketball. The Blue and Gold Forum think they know how to answer that question: Andrew Bynum.

Kings at Blues (5:30 p.m. PST, FSN-W): It’s a rare instance when the Kings can play a team struggling worse than they are, but the Blues, losers of seven in a row, provide that opportunity. The Kings and the Clippers are really the Fredo Corleone’s of the Southern California sports scene this season. Their ineeptitude keeps being raised to new levels.

N E W S W O R T H Y . . .

• It’s OK to exhale Angels’ fans. John Lackey’s “sore elbow” is feeling much better after his workouts yesterday.
• UCLA continues to rise in the rankings all the way to No. 2 in the country. Number 1 seed, here we come.
• Bruins legend John Wooden should be released from the hospital on Wednesday.
• USC coach Tim Floyd officially complained to the PAC-10 about the 29 fouls called against the Trojans in their game versus ASU.

C O L U M N S . . .

• Some of you may be counting out Dodgers pitcher Jason Schmidt. And why not, thanks to his injury-riddled first season with the Dodgers. Bill Plaschke gives you a plethora of reasons to believe that Schmidt can return to his Cy Young form.
• Want to get inside the head of a Zen master named Phil Jackson? Well, Kevin Ding of the OC Register gives you some insight, Vince Vaughan style, into the guy behind the guy, behind the guy.
• SportsHubLA Column of the Day: Expanding on my point earlier that everyone should stop anointing the Lakers champs is Steve Dilbeck of the Daily News. The reasons he cites are the ultra-competitive West, the unkown integration of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, along with an extremely young bench. Make no mistake: This team is the creme de la creme of the NBA right now, but let’s wait and see.

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