Pressure Is On for Les Habitants

Playing against the Canadiens in Montreal tonight will be a big game for six King players--Luc Robitaille, Yanic Perreault, Stephane Fiset, Ian Laperriere, Philippe Boucher and Frederic Chabot. Each of them grew up in or around the city.

“I like to play here in front of my family and friends,” Fiset said. “For a French hockey player, you always want to play good here in Montreal. They put so much pressure on you. It’s unreal. You don’t want to do bad.”

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Center Roman Vopat has been assigned to the Fredericton Canadiens of the American Hockey League. Vopat, acquired from St. Louis as part of the Wayne Gretzky trade in February 1996, had two assists and 35 penalty minutes in 13 games.

TONIGHT

Los Angeles at Montreal

* 4:30 PST

* Fox Sports West

Site--Molson Center, Montreal.

Radio--XTRA 690.

Records--Kings 12-9-5, Canadiens 15-10-3.

Record vs. Canadiens--0-1.

Update--The Kings have not played since completing a two-game season sweep of Eastern Conference power New Jersey last Saturday at the Forum, 4-1, but they are busy now. They will play at Ottawa on Thursday. Montreal spanked the Kings at the Forum last month, 4-1, but has struggled lately at home and lost Monday to Pittsburgh, 1-0, in the first game of a five-game homestand. Shayne Corson leads the team with 21 assists and 32 points. Mark Recchi, who recently was left off the Canadian Olympic team, has a team-high 12 goals and 28 points.