Big dropoffs are culprits in descent

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The numbers aren’t misleading in the unvarnished, unplugged 20-game report, and you can pretty much figure out why the Kings are in danger of tumbling to the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

Michael Cammalleri: First 10 games, 10 goals. Last 10 games, two goals.

Michal Handzus and Ladislav Nagy: No goals and no points in the last four games, and each player has one point in the last six. The Kings have won once in their last six games.

Derek Armstrong: Searching for his first goal this season.

Then there’s the penalty-killing issue. The Kings are 26th in the league, and have allowed at least one power-play goal in four of their last five games.

“It has to be better,” Coach Marc Crawford said Tuesday after practice. “We have to recognize that. We have a young penalty kill, plus we’re young.”

He spoke about the Dallas Stars’ third goal Monday night, which came on the power play, and the learning curve of Kings forwards Patrick O’Sullivan and Matt Moulson.

“The goal . . . was a young mistake made by two young forwards,” Crawford said. “They both went to the outside and the inside needed to be protected. It wasn’t much of a mistake and [the Stars] took advantage.”

Cammalleri’s drop-off has been the most precipitous, though the lack of production from the supporting lines has made it considerably easier for teams to key on the No. 1 line.

“He’s not scoring at the level he was scoring at earlier in the season.” Crawford said. “Cammy is a guy that has to shoot every puck that comes his way . . . and be determined to get his volume of shots. We know what he is. Other teams know what he is. So they’re trying to dissuade him from getting any shots. He’s going to have to keep working to get open. He’s on a down cycle right now but work will get him through it.”

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TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 6:30 PST, FSN West

Radio -- 1150.

Site -- Jobing.com Arena.

Record -- Kings 8-11-1, Coyotes 8-10-0.

Record vs. Coyotes -- 0-1-0.

Update -- The acquisition of goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, picked up after the Ducks put him on waivers, created a sudden glut at that position for Phoenix. Some of it was eliminated when Alex Ault was sent to the minors on Tuesday, and it is expected that David Aebischer will be heading back to play in his native Switzerland. Kings enforcer Raitis Ivanans (broken cheekbone) is probable for Saturday at San Jose.

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lisa.dillman@latimes.com