On Face of Things, Kings Must Change

Understandably, there were no smiling faces in the Kings’ dressing room after their embarrassing 8-3 loss to St. Louis in the first game of their playoff series Thursday.

“I don’t think that there are too many [St. Louis players] icing down over there,” King defenseman Rob Blake said. “We were too soft.”

After jumping to a commanding 5-1 lead and sending King goaltender Stephane Fiset to the bench midway through the second period, the Blues had plenty to smile about, which did not go unnoticed by the Kings.

“I would have too,” Blake said. “They scored at will and did what they wanted at will. We can do all the whacking and chopping at the end of the game. That doesn’t bother them one bit. All they wanted to do is win, and that’s how we have to get.”

*

Nathan LaFayette, who centered the Kings’ checking line, says the team has to show some maturity after being blown out by the Blues.

“We have to be able to put it behind us,” he said. “We have to learn from it, certainly, and look at the mistakes we made and make sure they don’t happen again. If you let this game affect you in a negative way going into Game 2, you’re not being professional.”

Added left wing Craig Johnson, who scored the Kings’ first goal-- against his former team to boot:

“It’s desperation now. We have to change some things because we’re giving them too much room.”

*

Veteran center Ray Ferraro, who has struggled with a left knee injury most of the season, was a healthy scratch against the Blues.

“This game tonight was a disaster,” said Ferraro, who has 39 points in 55 playoff games over his 14-year career. “Nobody anticipated this. It’s pretty hard to single out what went wrong. When [King Coach Larry Robinson] told me that I wasn’t in I was disappointed, but I told him I’ll be ready if he needs me. I’m not sitting out hoping that we’d lose so I’d get in. But, obviously, I want to play. I feel good and my knee is as good as it’s going to be.”

*

St. Louis right wing Jim Campbell couldn’t play for the Mighty Ducks.

He was set adrift by the Ducks after the 1995-96 season, in which he played only 16 games for them and scored two goals and five points. But after signing with the Blues as a free agent in July 1996, Campbell has blossomed.

Campbell, 25, has combined with left wing Geoff Courtnall and center Pavol Demitra to form the Blues’ most potent line. On Thursday, he contributed two goals and an assist.

“I guess things just weren’t right for me in Anaheim,” said Campbell, who had 23 goals and 43 points last season and followed that with 22 goals and 41 points this season.

“I came to St. Louis and got a lot of ice time. Hopefully, I can keep rolling right through the playoffs.”

Campbell is one of the few Blues players who has something good to say about former general manager/coach Mike Keenan, who signed him after the Ducks let him go.

“I came here and Mike played me on the power play,” Campbell said. “I really liked him as a coach. He gave me my chance to play in the NHL.”

*

Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira, by coincidence, was at the game, no doubt scouting prospective free agents. Several key players on the Blues--including Brett Hull, Courtnall, Steve Duchesne and Al MacInnis--will be unrestricted free agents this summer.

*

Courtnall’s six-point performance was a single-game playoff record for the Blues. He also tied a team record with five assists and tied a league record for assists in one period of a playoff game when he recorded three in the second period.

The Blues tied team records for goals in a period (four) and goals in a playoff game.