Robinson Makes Point Without a Single Puck

Even guys who seldom score or get an assist get in their passes and shots at practice.

Except Tuesday at the Great Western Forum, where pucks were absent at the Kings’ practice, which basically involved 60 minutes of concentrated skating.

“He was sending us a message,” defenseman Sean O’Donnell said of Coach Larry Robinson.

The message, said Robinson, was “If I can’t get the work out of you last night, I’ll get it today.”

The night in reference was Monday, when the Kings were beaten, 4-0, at San Jose in a game Robinson called one of the worst of the year and labeled “an embarrassment.”

“You can have a bad night,” he said, “but at least have a bad night working hard.”

It didn’t start Monday night.

“You could see it creeping in the last three or four games,” captain Rob Blake said.

Said Robinson: “We blew a 3-1 lead at Edmonton and get away with an overtime goal; we play soft against Buffalo and [Sabre goalie Dominik] Hasek isn’t playing, so we win; and we get a tie against Edmonton [on Saturday] because of goaltending.”

It all came together on Monday night.

“It was a big game,” O’Donnell said. “No, it was a huge game. And we didn’t come up with the effort.”

The goal now is to win the four games until the All-Star break, all at home.

“They’re four must games,” Blake said. “After the All-Star game, we go on the road for some rough games.”

Those are at Dallas, Washington, Buffalo and Philadelphia.

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Blake was selected to the North American team for the Jan. 24 All-Star game in Tampa. No Kings had been selected for the World team.

“You like being a part of it,” said Blake, who played in one other All-Star game, in 1994 at New York, getting an assist. “It’s exciting.”

Notably absent was winger Luc Robitaille, whose 22 goals are tied for third in the NHL.

“What can I say?” he said, obviously disappointed. “I didn’t know. The season is what’s important.”