Offensive Surge Expected as Johnson Gets Promoted

The Kings apparently have settled on their top two lines, and perhaps the chief beneficiary of that is Craig Johnson.

He has been moved onto a line with Jozef Stumpel and Vladimir Tsyplakov.

“Playing with two players of that caliber, you have to get more [scoring] chances,” said Johnson, who has supplanted rookie Josh Green on that line.

After what was considered a breakout season for him in 1997-98, in which he scored 17 goals and had 21 assists, he has two goals and two assists in 23 games.

The move is an attempt by Coach Larry Robinson to jump-start Johnson’s offense.

“The guy had 17 goals for us last season and we’ve had him playing in a checking line,” Robinson said. “Here, he gets a chance to use his speed.”

Johnson, probably the fastest of the Kings, is appreciative.

“Now, it’s just up to me to find the holes,” he said.

He found one Wednesday night, putting the puck over Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig, but Kolzig was lying on Stumpel at the time and the goal was waved off.

“They say you see the hole or the brown of the [goalie’s] pads,” Johnson said. “So far, I’ve been seeing the pads. . . . I’ve been thinking too much.”

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With Rob Blake expected back for Saturday night’s game against Vancouver, the Kings will have eight uninjured defensemen, two more than they will use in most games, one more than they would ordinarily carry on the roster.

But moving any of the eight would require waivers, and the Kings don’t want to take a chance at losing any.

The answer might well be turning defenseman Mark Visheau into a winger.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” said Robinson, who added that he had not broached the idea to Visheau.

“He would give us some extra size and toughness to win the battles up front, and I don’t mean fighting toughness,” Robinson added.

Visheau, with a hair-trigger temper, has had several fights in his 10 games as a King.

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Winger Steve McKenna, sidelined because of an abdominal strain and out for 14 games, is expected to miss more time after aggravating the injury in Wednesday night’s game. . . . The Kings have sent center Brandon Convery, obtained on waivers from Vancouver on Nov. 19, to Long Beach of the IHL.