McKenna Making Some Big Points

Left wing Steve McKenna scored his first NHL point when he was credited with an assist on Rob Blake’s goal against Detroit on Thursday. McKenna, recalled Oct. 16 after beginning the season with Fredericton of the American Hockey League, has impressed Coach Larry Robinson with his effort.

“The thing about Steve is that he is a hard worker,” Robinson said.

“If he’s in the game for four minutes, he’ll play a hard four minutes. . . . If he’s in a game for 20, he’ll play a hard 20. That’s what I like about him.”

McKenna has played 11 NHL games in his career and now has one assist to go with 37 penalty minutes.

TONIGHT

at

Tampa Bay

Lightning

* 4 p.m. PST

* Channel 9

Site--Ice Palace.

Radio--AM 1150.

Records--Kings 3-5-3; Lightning 2-7-2.

Record vs. Lightning (1996-97) --0-2.

Update--For the first time this season, the Kings will go into a game with more wins than their opponent. Since Tampa Bay entered the NHL in 1992, the Kings have lost seven of nine games to the Lightning, including five in a row. The Kings’ last win over Tampa Bay came Oct. 20, 1993. Center Jozef Stumpel leads the team with five goals and 13 points but has gone scoreless the last three games. Garry Galley has a team-high nine assists and is second with 11 points. After recording only one point in the Kings’ first seven games, Blake has two goals and five points in his last four. Tampa Bay is coming off a 4-3 loss to the Rangers at New York on Friday. The Lightning is winless in its last seven games. Dino Ciccarelli leads the team with three goals and eight points. Tampa Bay is averaging less than one goal a game.