Robitaille Back on Top Line

Some things are shaking out for the Kings, who Wednesday reinstated Luc Robitaille to his spot on the No. 1 line, moved Vladimir Tsyplakov back to the fourth line and sent Dan Bylsma to Long Beach.

The length of his stay depends on Robitaille’s recovery from a broken left foot.

“It’s fine, feels great,” said Robitaille after his second practice in as many days. “No problems.”

Coach Andy Murray withheld judgment, saying only that Robitaille would not be eased into the lineup. “If he can’t play all the time, he won’t play,” Murray said. “He’ll have to play 40-second shifts” like everybody else.

Murray also said the coaching staff was still determining the use of Robitaille, but that was apparent Wednesday with the move of Tsyplakov to the fourth line.

Bylsma, who played well over a 14-game span--especially on the penalty-killing unit--before giving way to Jason Blake, joined the Ice Dogs for their game at Utah on Wednesday night, as did defenseman Jaroslav Modry.

Modry will rejoin the Kings today, but Bylsma will stay with Long Beach if it is determined that Robitaille can play Friday against the Mighty Ducks. That is because the Kings need to clear a roster spot for Robitaille.

Also, Tsyplakov faces the prospect of going from a spot on the No. 1 line to being scratched against the Ducks, if Murray, as expected, goes with a lineup that includes Steve McKenna to try to counter the Ducks’ physical play.

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Len Barrie could be the chief beneficiary of Robitaille’s return, because it puts him in a position of centering a line that has, as options, Ziggy Palffy on the right wing and Robitaille on the left.

“I played with Luc a little bit in Pittsburgh and we scored some goals together,” Barrie said. “I have to guard against over-passing. One thing, with Luc in there and with Ziggy, you have to pay attention to both of them, so it might leave some opportunities for me.”

Barrie is replacing injured Jozef Stumpel as the No. 1 line’s center and has two goals and three assists in nine game.