Kings See Stars in Defeat : Hockey: Robitaille even misses a penalty shot in 3-0 loss to Minnesota at Forum.

King Coach Barry Melrose made Saturday morning’s pregame skate optional because his team had just returned home from a grueling six-game, nine-day, coast-to-coast trip. However, about 75% of the team still showed up.

Saturday night’s game against the Minnesota North Stars wasn’t optional, but the Kings took the night off anyway, losing, 3-0, before a sellout crowd of 16,005 at the Forum. It was the first time that the Kings were shut out at home since March 29, 1990, when the Winnipeg Jets handed them a 1-0 loss.

“We just came off seven games in 11 nights, so I’m very proud of them,” Melrose said. “We crisscrossed the United States a couple times and played hard every night. We played hard tonight, too, but we just didn’t have anything to give.

“I’m not pleased with the loss, but it’s like four mules stuck in the mud. You can whip them forever, but you just can’t get out of the mud. And that was us tonight.

“It’s unfortunate for the people here that didn’t get a chance to see us play the way we were playing on the road.”

The loss ended the Kings’ five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) and cut the their lead over fourth-place Winnipeg to two points in the Smythe Division.

Right wing Ulf Dahlen scored a goal and assisted on another as Minnesota ended a nine-game winless streak, its longest since a 12-game winless streak in 1978. It was only the North Stars’ second victory since owner Norm Green announced on March 10 that the team will move to Dallas next season. Minnesota is 2-8-1 since the announcement.

A longtime North Star fan who was angered by the move threw a cup of beer at Green, who was seated in the press box, after the game.

North Star goalie Jon Casey made 25 saves in recording his third shutout of the season. Casey made a glove save on Luc Robitaille’s first-period penalty shot.

“I got lucky, it hit me right in the glove.” Casey said. “Sometimes it works out that way, sometimes not. I did try to cheat a little to my glove side, maybe just to let him see a little daylight, then take it away at the last moment.”

The Kings wasted two good second-period scoring chances when defenseman Darryl Sydor hit the right post early and defenseman Alexei Zhitnik hit the crossbar.

“We got lucky a couple of times, with pucks that clanked off goal posts,” Minnesota Coach Bob Gainey said. “And the penalty shot was was a huge boost for us. Casey played very well, especially in and around our net. He helped organize the play extremely well.”

The Kings, who were playing their seventh game in 11 days, had more penalties (13) than shots (11) in the first two periods.

Dahlen scored on Minnesota’s first shot of the game when he dug the puck out of the corner, skated into the crease and put the puck through the legs of goalie Robb Stauber for his 33rd goal of the season at 2:34 of the opening period.

Dahlen then set up a power-play goal by right wing Russ Courtnall with a nice pass in the slot to give the North Stars a 2-0 lead at 9:30.

The Kings had a chance to cut the deficit to one goal when they were awarded a penalty shot after Minnesota defenseman Brad Berry hooked defenseman Rob Blake into the net from behind on a breakaway at 10:02.

Robitaille took the penalty shot in place of Blake, who was taken to Centinela Hospital Medical Center because of a bruised lower back. However, Casey made a nice glove save on Robitaille, who didn’t attempt any fakes.

King Notes

Minnesota right wing Shane Churla, who was supposed to be serving a two-game suspension after drawing two game misconducts Wednesday’s against Edmonton, played against the Kings because the North Stars are appealing the suspension. . . . King owner Bruce McNall presented a check for $264,575 to the City of Hope. The donation came from last month’s Tip-A-King event, the most successful charity event in club history.

* ROAD WOES

The Ottawa Senators set an NHL record with their 38th consecutive road loss, a 7-3 defeat at Hartford. C13