An Acceptable Belief System

Left wing Luc Robitaille has played in 848 NHL games and says he has never been more excited about a team than he is with this season’s Kings.

“We’re really building our team unity, and we are starting to believe in each other more and more,” Robitaille said about the Kings, who are 4-2-1 in their last seven games.

“The way we are playing our system now is great. It doesn’t matter where you are in your career, it’s always fun to win and it is certainly fun right now.”

The Kings, who will play five home games in the next 10 days, have a chance to gain ground in the Western Conference with seven games against conference opponents over the next three weeks.

“We have played well every game where we have been on top of the other teams,” said Robitaille, who has scored seven goals. “Our problem has been that in a few games we’ve had some letdowns. . . . But if we keep believing in each other as a team, we’ll keep getting better.”

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Coach Larry Robinson has had recent success teaming Jozef Stumpel, Sandy Moger and Robitaille on one line and Yanic Perreault, Glen Murray and Vladimir Tsyplakov on another. But he did not rule out more line changes for the upcoming home stand.

“Because we’re playing so much hockey, there’s a good chance that I may move around some players to give some guys rest,” Robinson said.

“We’re playing good hockey now, but we just want to use this as a steppingstone.”

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Rookie Olli Jokinen has been a scratch the last five games and could be assigned to the minors to get more playing time. . . . The Kings did not practice Wednesday.

TONIGHT vs. Tampa Bay

* 7:30 p.m.

* Fox Sports West

Site--Forum.

Radio--XTRA 690.

Records--Kings 6-6-4, Lightning 2-10-2.

Record vs. Lightning--1-0 .

Update--The Kings completed a 3-1-1 trip with a 3-0 victory at New Jersey on Tuesday. The Kings held the Devils’ power play, which was ranked No. 1 in the league, scoreless in six opportunities and they have given up only two goals in their last 31 penalty-killing situations. Stephane Fiset has given up only seven goals in his last 11 starts. Perreault has a team-high eight goals and Stumpel leads the team with 18 points. The Kings defeated Tampa Bay, 3-1, in Rick Paterson’s first game as interim coach after replacing Terry Crisp.