Scoring Balance Sought

Throughout the season, the Kings have ranked among the top-scoring teams in the league, and with 20 more goals they will match last season’s total of 214. But if the Kings are to have a realistic chance in the playoffs, they’ll have to establish more than one scoring line.

Jozef Stumpel, Glen Murray and Vladimir Tsyplakov have been the Kings’ most consistent scoring forwards all season, but Coach Larry Robinson might have to split them up to get more balanced scoring.

“We’ve had them all on the same line and really haven’t had Yanic [Perreault] with anybody special since Stumper came back,” Robinson said Friday. “We have to use the fact that [Perreault] has 24 goals and try and spread our offense out so that other teams will have to worry about two lines to check instead of just one line to check.”

One possible lineup change could have rookie Jason Morgan moving from center to left wing on a line centered by Stumpel, the team’s leading scorer with 67 points.

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Defenseman Doug Zmolek, who has sat out six games because of a shoulder injury, practiced Friday. He is now listed as day to day. . . . Center Nathan LaFayette is still experiencing some headaches after workouts and is also day to day. . . . Goaltender Frederic Chabot, who suffered a sprained right knee March 10, has been sent to Houston of the International Hockey League for rehabilitation. Luc Robitaille’s rehabilitation after his March 2 surgery to repair a right groin/abdominal injury is going better than expected and the veteran could be skating as early as next week. Unless he suffers a setback, Robitaille is expected back the final week of the regular season. . . . The NHL’s trading deadline is Tuesday at noon PST.

vs. Phoenix

* Noon

* Channel 11

Site--Great Western Forum.

Radio--KOGO (600).

Records--Kings 31-25-11, Coyotes 26-30-12.

Record vs. Coyotes--1-2.

Update--The Kings, 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, ended a four-game losing streak against the Coyotes when they held on for a 4-3 victory at Phoenix on March 10. Murray has 23 goals, and has five points in his last five games. Goaltender Stephane Fiset will start today and has a .914 save percentage. Phoenix lost, 4-3, to Colorado on Thursday and is 2-7-1 in its last 10 games. Left wing Keith Tkachuk, who leads the Coyotes with 36 goals and 58 points, is out because of a rib injury. Phoenix is 12-16-6 on the road and has been passed by Chicago for sixth place in the Western Conference standings.