Second Line Having Problems

Saturday morning’s video at Iceoplex was no cartoon. It was an indictment of the Kings’ second line, which had been expected to become its first line in the absence of injured Luc Robitaille and Jozef Stumpel.

Instead, Glen Murray, Bryan Smolinski and Donald Audette have combined for one goal and two assists in 17 shots in the three games Robitaille and Stumpel have been out.

Smolinski and Murray were shotless in Thursday’s 5-2 victory over Colorado.

“Maybe we’re trying to do too much because Stumpy and Luc are out,” Murray said. “We’ve got to get back to the way we were playing and just . . . not think. And quit playing so much in our own end and start playing more in their end.”

Twice after a power-play goal by the first line Thursday night, the seconds were sent out with orders to get the puck into Colorado’s end of the ice. Twice, they instead turned it over at the blue line.

“Guys get benched for that,” Coach Andy Murray said.

*

Len Barrie figured all along he was a first-line center, but every time he got to the NHL--with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Florida--coaches played him on the fourth line before sending him back to the minors . . . where he was a leading scorer as a first-line center.

Now he finds himself back in the NHL, centering the Kings’ first line.

“I’ve got a chance,” he said. “I can play any role they ask me, but I’ve always thought I could score in the NHL. Now I’ve got three months to prove it.”

TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 5 PST

* Site--America West Arena.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 10-4-4, Coyotes 9-5-3.

* Record vs. Coyotes--0-1.

* Update--The Coyotes have lost three of their last four games.