Offense So Far Is Top-Notch

With an NHL-high 65 goals in 19 games, the King offense has been an unexpected surprise, especially considering it scored only 214 last season.

Yanic Perreault leads the Kings with 12 goals, but they also have received a boost from players such as Glen Murray (seven goals) and Craig Johnson (six).

“It’s nice to see because early in the year we were [picked on] for our lack of scoring,” Coach Larry Robinson said. “We’ve been spreading it around. . . . But what really is making me happy is that we are slowly bringing our goals-against average down too.”

After giving up 3.1 goals a game in the first eight games, the Kings have given up an average of two in their last eight.

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In less than two full seasons, left wing Matt Johnson has quietly gained the reputation among NHL players as one of the toughest fighters in the league. Just don’t look for him to battle former King Marty McSorley too many times tonight at the Forum.

That’s because McSorley took Johnson under his wing when the two were teammates a few seasons ago.

“It would be very hard to fight Marty,” said Johnson, who has 56 penalty minutes. “It would be tough to fight a friend. . . . But on the ice it’s business. . . . Some guys who know each other fight all of the time.”

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Defenseman Doug Zmolek and left wing Vladimir Tsyplakov did not practice and are day to day after injuries suffered Tuesday in the Kings’ 8-2 victory over Vancouver. Zmolek injured his right foot and Tsyplakov fractured his right hand. Neither is expected to play against San Jose tonight.

Defenseman Philippe Boucher and rookie Donald MacLean are expected to take their place. MacLean, who scored four goals in his first seven games but has not scored a point since Oct. 15, will move from center to left wing.

TONIGHT

Los Angeles vs.

San Jose

* 7:30

* Fox Sports West

Site--Forum.

Radio--XTRA 690.

Records--Kings 8-7-4, Sharks 6-12-1.

Record vs. Sharks (1996-97 season)--2-3.

Update-- Luc Robitaille scored his 400th goal as a King against the Canucks and has 16 points in his last 14 games. Murray has 13 points in his last eight games. San Jose is 3-5 on the road and is led offensively by Jeff Friesen and Owen Nolan.