Robitaille Irked by Line Shuffling

Luc Robitaille began the night on the Kings’ fourth line and ended center stage.

That long climb was not a welcomed one. With the Kings acquiring Mark Parrish on Thursday, some line shuffling was going to follow after Thursday’s 7-3 loss to Detroit.

Parrish was placed on the Kings’ top line with Craig Conroy and Jeremy Roenick. Robitaille skated with Jeff Giuliano and George Parros.

“We didn’t want to shake up all our lines, so Luc started with the energy unit,” Coach Andy Murray said. “As the game went on, we made some adjustments.”

Robitaille played 2 minutes 52 seconds, and only 21 seconds on the Kings’ four power plays, in the first period. By the end of the game, he was skating with Conroy and Roenick, and Parrish was on a line with Derek Armstrong and Michael Cammalleri. Dustin Brown was demoted to the fourth line.

“I wasn’t happy about” being on the fourth line, Robitaille said. “It’s not my decision, but I don’t like it.... As a player, it’s not where you want to be. I didn’t have a great game in Detroit, but not many of us did. I just have to play hard all the time, that way Andy puts me back.”

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Defenseman Mattias Norstrom was scratched from the lineup because of the stomach flu, Murray said. Norstrom played only 11 minutes 43 seconds against Minnesota on Tuesday, leaving the game because of theflu.

Mike Weaver played in Norstrom’s place Saturday.

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Defenseman Brent Sopel, acquired with Parrish from the Islanders Thursday, joined the Kings in St. Louis, but is unable to play because of a bruised knee.