Looking for a Few Good Men

With seven games to play over the next 13 days to close out the regular season, the Kings do not have much time to work out the problems that have plagued them in losing eight of their last 12 games.

“We have to [somehow] work our way out of it,” Coach Larry Robinson said. “Play the guys who want to work and want to get it done. Guys who don’t want to get it done will not be in there.”

On Sunday, the Kings practiced on getting traffic in front of the net, which is something that they have not done consistently since the Olympic break.

“We get our goals by playing good defense and out-working the other team in their zone,” Robinson said. “That hasn’t been the way the last little while. We’ve been trying to do everything the easy way. . . . which is not our game.”

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With only seven goals in going 1-4 on their current trip, the Kings are definitely looking for answers.

“We’re frustrated because we played so well for a long period of time and now we’re struggling and a lot is our own doing,” forward Russ Courtnall said. “We became relaxed and then decided to try and turn it on and in this league you can’t do that. We’re trying to do too many things. We’re also not in good position as well on the ice. We’re not scoring the goals that we found a way to score all year.”

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Pavel Rosa, who has missed most of the season because of post-concussion syndrome, has played in two games recently with the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League.

TONIGHT

Los Angeles at Colorado

* 6 p.m.

PDT

* Fox Sports

West

Site--McNichols Arena.

Radio--XTRA 690 (AM)

Records--Kings 34-30-11; Avalanche 37-24-16.

Season record vs. Avalanche--2-1.

Update--Since Feb. 25, 1997, the Kings are 4-1 against the Avalanche, including a 5-2 win in their last meeting on March 14 at the Great Western Forum. Both teams have struggled over their last 10 games with the Kings posting a 3-7 mark and Colorado 4-6. King goaltender Stephane Fiset has lost his last four starts. Defenseman Garry Galley has two goals in the Kings’ last four games. Colorado’s Joe Sakic is back from a knee injury but Peter Forsberg is not expected to play because of a groin strain.