Angry Robinson Threatens Changes

If Coach Larry Robinson doesn’t have a change of mind, the Kings will have new faces in the lineup Tuesday when they host the New York Islanders at the Forum.

Robinson did not name specific players, but he was not happy with the play of several of the Kings in the first period of the team’s 3-2 overtime loss to Edmonton on Sunday.

“Nobody touched anybody,” Robinson said about the team’s slow start, which led to an early 2-0 Oiler lead on power-play goals.

“If you don’t touch a team that can skate the way they do and move the puck, you are going to be in your zone all night. That’s the way it is and that’s exactly what happened. It’s just awful losing the way we lost.

“Maybe they need to stop reading about themselves and start doing it on the ice. They can’t think that they can just come to the rink and everyone is going to give them two points. As hard as they worked [in a 5-1 victory over Philadelphia on Friday] is the same way they have to work every night. That’s the way the league is . . . as soon as they wake up and realize that the more success they are going to have. We have to have a commitment from everybody.”

Robinson did not play the same players who were scratches against the Flyers and they were forwards Brad Smyth, Steve McKenna and Olli Jokinen and defenseman Mattias Norstrom.

“Guys who didn’t want to play tonight will be sitting and we will put in the four guys who are ready to play,” Robinson said. “No if, ands or buts . . . no excuses.”

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The Kings will continue their six-game homestand Tuesday against the Islanders before hosting the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.