He’s Not Looking for Extra

Coach Larry Robinson disagrees with the theory that the Kings will have to step up their game to defeat St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs based on the team’s 0-3-1 record against the Blues during the season.

“Instead of concentrating on trying to do more, just do what you do but do it the best you can,” Robinson said he told his players. “Don’t try to play forward. Don’t try to play [defenseman]. Don’t try to play goaltender. . . . If everyone does their own little part, we’ll be fine. But if we get out there and the guys try to do more and do everybody else’s job . . . it won’t work.”

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Defenseman Mattias Norstrom, who played in three playoff games with the New York Rangers in 1995, says that the Kings’ style of play should help the team’s younger players against the Blues.

“We know that we have to play with aggressiveness and energy,” Norstrom said. “We have to make it a hard-checking game and go after teams. We can’t adjust and wait. We’ve had success when we’ve chased teams.”

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In four games against St. Louis this season, the Kings scored one power-play goal in 16 man-advantage opportunities.

“St. Louis is very aggressive. At times they will have a defenseman almost right up at the blue line,” Robinson said. “They’re [seventh] in the league. They have very good penalty killing.”