With 21 Points, Palffy Enjoys Powerful Start

King winger Ziggy Palffy had three assists Thursday night, and at 21 points in 14 games is off to the best start of his career.

The reason, he said, is simple.

“The power play has been going so well,” he said.

It generated two goals in a 5-2 victory over the Thrashers, and Palffy had assists on both. He has 12 points with the man advantage.

But the Kings had struggled of late, converting only three of 34 power-play opportunities over their last six games before clicking on two of four against Atlanta.

“Guys are diving in front of pucks,” Palffy explained of the penalty-killing antics opposing teams--particularly Columbus, which took care of six penalties on Tuesday night--are using.

“We have to be smarter when they do that. We have to adjust.”

That the Kings did Thursday, and they also got a bit of luck.

On the first man-advantage goal, scored by Steve Reinprecht, Palffy sent him the puck in the corner and Reinprecht walked it goalward, then spied Luc Robitaille lurking around the crease. Reinprecht’s pass toward Robitaille instead hit the skate of Atlanta’s Steve Staios and caromed into the net for a 3-1 lead.

On the second power-play goal, Palffy sent the puck to Rob Blake, who one-timed it home from the faceoff circle on goalie Milan Hnilicka’s right.

Palffy also assisted on Mathieu Schneider’s even-strength goal, scored in the second period to give the Kings a 2-1 lead.

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King center Bryan Smolinski was among the missing for Thursday night’s game after he was summoned to Southern California earlier in the day to attend to wife Julie, who is nearly ready to deliver their first child.

Ian Laperriere, who has been playing right wing this season after spending most of his career at center, moved back into the middle, centering for Stu Grimson and Jason Blake.

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Atlanta winger Donald Audette, who was traded from the Kings with defenseman Fran Kaberle last season, said Thursday his agent is in talks with Atlanta management about a long-term contract.

Audette can be an unrestricted free agent after this season.