Losing Streak Has Team Thinking

Sunday was a day for introspection, after an uncustomary hour on the ice. The Kings are trying to figure out why they have lost three games in a row, and all by margins that border on stratospheric in hockey.

Twenty-three goals surrendered in three games by a team that gave up only 24 in its first nine games will tend to make one introspective.

“What we’re finding out is that we believe in the system, but we’re just not trusting each other,” said Coach Andy Murray, about a third through a series of 10-minute meetings with each of the Kings.

By that, the Kings mean that they trust the system will work, but they don’t trust each other to play their roles in it. Anticipating teammates’ gaffes, the Kings have overcompensated, leaving gaps in the defense.

“If you want to question the system, look at our first 30 games,” said Rob Blake, the team’s captain.

“It’s not the system. It’s the way we’re playing the system.”

To emphasize the point, the Kings were shown video of the first period of their Nov. 27 game against San Jose, in which they outshot the Sharks, 14-4, on their way to a 4-1 victory.

(Not surprisingly, they weren’t shown the second period, in which they were outshot, 19-5, by San Jose.)

Cut to the game’s last second, when Bob Miller told the TV audience, “Ladies and gentlemen, the L.A. Kings are in first place in the National Hockey League.”

They were 14-7-4-1 at the time. They are 2-4-2 since.

After trust, the emphasis has been put on key players performing better. “It’s difficult for the role players to play well if the key players aren’t,” Murray said.

Finally, there is the question of the team living up to its motto of being tough to play. The Kings have been manhandled at times recently.

“We talked about how everybody has a role on this team,” Blake said.

Right now, some of the roles aren’t being filled.

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Goalie Jamie Storr, on injured reserve because of a concussion, will be examined by a doctor today, with additional tests Wednesday to determine when he can begin off-ice conditioning. Storr was injured at Montreal.

He was joined on the concussion list by defenseman Garry Galley on Thursday and Jason Blake on Sunday. They were excused from practice, as were Ziggy Palffy (back) and Brad Chartrand (groin).

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Winger/center Dan Bylsma was assigned to Long Beach on Sunday, clearing a spot for Jozef Stumpel’s return Wednesday at San Jose. Galley was put on injured reserve and the Kings recalled winger Bill Huard from Lowell of the American Hockey League.