Kings cancel third home game during lockout

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Kings canceled the third home game of their regular-season schedule Thursday, a result of the week-old NHL lockout.

The Oct. 23 game against Phoenix was part of "Hockey Day in LA," which has been changed to a doubleheader featuring the AHL's Manchester Monarchs and Utah Grizzlies, and the Jr. Kings' Midget AAA team's game against the Colorado Rampage at Staples Center.

Last week, the Kings canceled their entire home preseason schedule and the first two home games of the regular season, which was to have started Oct. 13.

Teams have been given permission to release previously booked dates for games on a 30-day rolling basis. So every day that passes will knock another possible playing date off the calendar.

The four preseason games were Sept. 23 against Phoenix at Staples Center; Sept. 25 against Anaheim in Las Vegas; Sept. 26 against San Jose in Bakersfield, Calif., and Oct. 9 against Colorado at Staples Center.

The first two regular-season games affected were Oct. 15 against Calgary and Oct. 17 against Anaheim.