Healthy Johnson Picking Up Pace

Before this season, Craig Johnson had scored only 16 points in 42 games with the Kings since joining them in the Wayne Gretzky trade with St. Louis on Feb. 27, 1996.

Johnson’s biggest problem has been avoiding injury. The speedy left wing missed 50 games because of an abdominal injury last season.

So far this season, he has been injury-free and his play has been a bright spot for the Kings. In 13 games, Johnson has 10 points and three goals. At that pace, he will surpass his best season--13 goals and 24 points in 60 games with the Blues and Kings in 1995-96.

The Kings are 2-0-1 in games in which Johnson has scored a goal.

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Coach Larry Robinson played on five Stanley Cup teams under then-Montreal coach Scotty Bowman. When the Kings take the ice tonight against the Bowman-coached Detroit Red Wings, Robinson will be seeking his first victory over his former coach. In five games against the Red Wings, Robinson is 0-4-1.

TONIGHT Kings at Detroit

* 4:30 PST

* Fox Sports West 2.

Site--Joe Louis Arena.

Radio--XTRA 690.

Records--Kings 4-5-4, Red Wings 10-1-2.

Record vs. Red Wings--0-1.

Update--The Kings are 1-0-1 on their current five-game trip after tying Florida, 2-2, on Tuesday in Miami. The Kings have failed to score first in 10 of 13 games, but they have outscored their last eight opponents, 12-5, in the third period. Only Detroit, which scored three third-period goals in a 4-1 win at the Forum on Oct. 23, has outscored the Kings in the final period since Oct. 5. Jozef Stumpel ended a four-game scoreless streak with a goal and an assist against the Panthers, giving him a team-high 14 points. Goaltender Stephane Fiset has given up 10 goals in his last five starts. The Red Wings have a nine-game unbeaten streak (6-0-3) against the Kings. With only one loss in their first 13 games, the Red Wings are off to their fastest start in 35 years. On Wednesday, former King Larry Murphy’s game-winning goal helped the Red Wings extend their home record to 6-0-0 with a 4-3 victory over San Jose.