Kings Lose Voice and Weight, Not Game, 3-3

What will disappear first?

It might be Larry Robinson’s voice, rapidly growing raspy from futile attempts to get his team, the Kings, to pay attention to defensive positioning. Or it could be a weary King goaltender, Byron Dafoe, simply melting away in a pool of sweat after one too many 50-shot nights.

Dafoe says he loses about 10 pounds after those kind of games. And Wednesday fit that category--a 52-save performance--in a 3-3 overtime tie against the Dallas Stars at Reunion Arena before 16,713.

“I enjoy getting the work, but over 50 is getting a little carried away,” said Dafoe, who recorded his first NHL shutout against St. Louis on Tuesday.

It was the seventh overtime game of the season for the Kings (6-4-5), who have won only twice in their last eight games. The Stars (5-5-4) are on a four-game winless streak.

King left wing Dimitri Khristich played his strongest offensive game in recent weeks. He had a hand in every goal, scoring twice and adding an assist. Wayne Gretzky had two assists and defenseman Rob Cowie scored his first goal of the season.

For Khristich, the goals were his first in nine games.

“I’m glad I got the two goals,” he said. “Lately, I’ve gotten so many chances. I hope that’s the start.”

In overtime, he nearly picked up the hat trick and game-winner with one minute remaining on a setup from Gretzky. But Dallas goaltender Andy Moog, who played well after an inauspicious start, was able to thwart him.

Overall, the Stars outshot the Kings, 55-24. They had a total of 40 shots on goal in the second and third periods after mustering only nine in the first period, after which they trailed, 3-1.

Center Dave Gagner pulled the Stars within one at 9:16 of the second period with his eighth goal of the season and second of the game. Defenseman Kevin Hatcher tied it, 3-3, with his fifth of the season, at 10:10 of the third period with a blast from the right circle.

Dafoe said he got his stick on the initial shot. “I sort of kicked it out to Kevin Hatcher,” he said. “I played with Hatch, and he can fire the puck.”

As for Robinson, he is particularly worried about Dafoe getting run down, and the high number of shots against him is not helping.

“We have to be adding to the problem,” he said. “It was the problem last year with Kelly [Hrudey], and down the line it ended up costing them. No excuses for it. We played a great first period, allowing only nine shots. We then started running around and we weren’t getting the shots.

“The bad habits are something that went on here for two years. The worst part is that this club has been an offensive team, great to watch but not conducive to winning hockey.”

At times, the Kings have been receptive to the new philosophy. But lately, they have been slipping back to their old ways at the slightest bit of adversity.

“Because it’s hard work,” Robinson said.

“Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little bit of offense. Not everyone can be Wayne Gretzky. Wayne does his own thing, but even Wayne has committed himself to being in the right place defensively. If he can do it, why can’t the 15 or 16 others? We have the guys who can do it.”

King Notes

Rookie left wing Vladimir Tsyplakov, who made his NHL debut on Tuesday, suffered a strained shoulder late in the game against St. Louis and did not play on Wednesday. The other scratch was Troy Crowder.

Defenseman Sean O’Donnell amused the crowd when he dropped his gloves to fight Dallas forward Todd Harvey early in the third period. Harvey refused to fight, laughed at O’Donnell and skated up ice. O’Donnell had to finish his shift without gloves.