Smyth’s Acquisition Is Kid’s Play

The Kings can thank Coach Larry Robinson’s son, Jeffrey, for their pickup of Brad Smyth, whose two goals and assist helped tie Washington, 4-4, Saturday night at the Forum.

Jeffrey Robinson watched Smyth play with Carolina in the American Hockey League last season and gave a great review to the Kings.

“He told me that we should take a look at him,” said Larry Robinson about the first time his son told him about Smyth, who has five goals in seven games with the Kings. “I guess, my son was right. . . . Maybe, I shouldn’t say this because now we may have to pay [Jeffrey].”

Smyth, 23, is glad to be with the Kings after seeing limited playing time with the forward-rich Panthers.

“They had two 50-goal scorers ahead of me,” said Smyth, who had 68 goals and 126 points last season in being named the AHL’s Most Valuable Player. “It’s tough to break in at a position loaded like that.”

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Left wing Kevin Stevens is starting to show signs of breaking out of his season-long scoring slump. In his last three games, he has had 12 shots on goal and had two assists against Washington on Saturday. . . . Defenseman Jan Vopat, who has been out because of a back injury since Oct. 4, will report to the Phoenix Roadrunners, the Kings’ International Hockey League affiliate, to start rehabilitation today. . . . Center Brent Grieve has been called up from Phoenix and made the trip to New York for Tuesday’s game against the Islanders.