Plug Is Pulled on the Power Play

On a 0-for-14 slide on the power play, the Kings have slipped to third in the league in that statistic. They are 21 of 85, or 21.2%, trailing Philadelphia’s 26.5% and Colorado’s 26.2% after being No. 1 for much of the the season.

After failing to convert seven tries Thursday against Phoenix, the league’s best penalty-killers, the Kings added more practice Friday to try to create an edge with a man advantage.

“What was discouraging is that we weren’t getting any puck time at the [offensive] end,” Coach Andy Murray said. “We would get it in the end, then turn it over.”

The loss of Jozef Stumpel and Luc Robitaille because of injuries is hurting the power play. The Kings have been able to compensate at even strength with winger Vladimir Tsyplakov and center Len Barrie, but Robitaille’s finishing ability and Stumpel’s creative talent meshed well with Ziggy Palffy, Rob Blake and Fran Kaberle on the first power-play unit.

“I don’t like to think that way,” Murray said of the impact of the loss of the two.

Perhaps, but the numbers support that sort of thinking.

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Defenseman Jere Karalahti had his first practice with the full Kings’ team Friday. Karalahti joined the team after arriving two months late from Finland because of visa problems.

Murray said that he is the team’s “eighth defenseman,” and that if one of the top six is injured, Jaroslav Modry will be called upon unless a right-handed shot is needed on the power play.

So far, the chief beneficiary of Karalahti’s presence has been Marko Tuomainen, the fourth-line winger and a former teammate of Karalahti’s in Finland. Tuomainen has been driving Karalahti around, getting him used to Southern California.

“I pick him up,” said Tuomainen, “and now I can use the car-pool lane.”

TONIGHT

vs. Montreal, 5 PST

FSN (delayed, 7)

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 12-5-4, Canadiens 5-14-1-1.

* Record vs. Canadiens (1998-99)--0-1.

* Update--Center Saku Koivu underwent shoulder surgery this week and is expected to be lost for 12 weeks, or perhaps the season. The Canadiens have scored only 38 goals in 20 games.

* Tickets--(888) 547-4752.