Down to One Punch Line

Getting scoring from more than one line has been a problem whenever the Kings have struggled and that has been true throughout their recent slump.

In a 3-2 loss at Washington on Saturday, it wasn’t a surprise that Jozef Stumpel and Glen Murray--the team’s two most consistent scorers--were on the ice for both goals.

“You’re not going to have the same guys scoring every night, the other guys are going to have to pick it up,” Coach Larry Robinson said. “We can’t always look for Stump [Stumpel] or Mugs [Murray] to score and Blakey [Rob Blake] to play great every night. Everybody has got to contribute and that’s not always the case.”

For one stretch against Washington, Steve McKenna--who scored his fourth goal of the season in the second period--was teamed with Stumpel and Murray. Robinson said he might use that line more and also liked the way Ray Ferraro, Russ Courtnall and Craig Johnson skated together.

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After being pleased with their effort in shutout losses at Buffalo and Philadelphia, the Kings fell short in that department in the first period against the Capitals.

“We know that to be a good team we have to battle through this,” forward Matt Johnson said. “We haven’t played for 60 minutes hard and we have to realize this. We’re a better team than the results we’re getting.”

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The good news for the Kings is that they hope to get back Luc Robitaille, Nathan LaFayette and Sandy Moger from injuries after they complete their six-game trip Monday at Colorado.