The Other Blake Learns His Role

Sure, it’s fun for a rookie, playing on the same line with Luc Robitaille, scorer of 528 goals and bound for the Hockey Hall of Fame. It’s something to tell your grandchildren.

But sometimes Jason Blake gets more help from Steve McKenna.

Take Wednesday night, when Blake scored the Kings’ first goal in a 4-0 romp over Atlanta.

“When Mac is out there, he creates space,” Blake said.

Robitaille had spent some of the first period double-shifting between lines, but in this case, McKenna was on the ice instead and found himself occupying two Thrashers. Blake was alone with the puck at the end boards. From there, it was a matter of walking it forward and sending it past Atlanta goalie Norm Maracle.

There were celebrations all around, and then Blake got to the bench, where Coach Andy Murray reminded him why he was in the NHL.

It wasn’t necessarily to score goals.

“The first thing I say to him is, ‘Jason, remember you are a gritty, hard-nosed centerman that is a pest to the other team to play against and don’t forget that,’ ” Murray recalled.

It’s a lesson that has been learned the hard way by a player who is still learning how hard it is to play in the NHL. He played one game last season, scored a goal and got a sense that his lot was foreordained.

This season, he got a dose of reality. He learned to deal with it by playing three games with Long Beach of the IHL.

“Since I’ve been back, I’ve learned my role,” he said.

*

The Kings have called up defenseman Jere Karalahti from Long Beach, but have not activated him.

Karalahti is serving as an insurance policy in case Rob Blake’s sore groin prevents his playing tonight at Detroit and Saturday at Montreal.

Karalahti brings a right-handed shot to replace Blake’s on the power play, if needed.

TONIGHT

at Detroit, 4:30 PST

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Joe Louis Arena.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 15-7-6-1, Red Wings 17-8-3-1.

* Record vs. Red Wings--0-0-1.

* Update--Former King goalie Manny Legace played his first game for Detroit on Wednesday, was drilled in the forehead by a shot by teammate Tomas Holmstrom during warmups, then shut down Nashville, 6-3, playing with a headache. He was replacing Ken Wregget, who was replacing usual starter Chris Osgood, who is out because of a broken bone in his left hand. Legace got a boost from Sergei Fedorov, who returned after a six-game, concussion-induced absence and had a goal. The Red Wings are also missing Kris Draper, Joe Kocur, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty because of various injuries.