Robitaille Waiting for a Big Score

Luc Robitaille had lost count, but others hadn’t and he was reminded of his eight-game goal-less streak.

He wasn’t reminded that the Kings were 3-4-1 in those games.

He didn’t have to be.

“I know scoring is my job,” he said.

His drought began one game before he was switched off a line centered by Jozef Stumpel and including winger Ziggy Palffy, to one centered by Steve Reinprecht and including winger Glen Murray.

Robitaille had played with Murray during the exhibition season and failed to score then, too.

Coach Andy Murray met with Stumpel and Palffy briefly Thursday morning before the Kings’ 5-2 victory at Atlanta and talked about moving Robitaille back, replacing rookie Tomas Vlasak.

It was a trial balloon, sort of, though Robitaille did get a few shifts with the two later Thursday night.

Problem is, Vlasak got most of his 13 shifts with Palffy and Stumpel.

“We still have to play him [with Stumpel and Palffy] because we don’t know” what we have, Murray said of the evaluation process of a rookie.

Vlasak’s play has been inconsistent, though it has been better since he joined Stumpel and Palffy.

Robitaille is another story.

“I think this is the most shots I’ve gotten in my entire career,” he said. “The chances are there. I’m getting pucks right in the crease.”

He has had 30 shots in the eight games and has come up empty.

And occasionally unlucky.

On a Thursday night power play, Reinprecht sent a pass toward Robitaille, who was lurking in his favorite spot in the crease in attempt to tip the puck in the net. He has scored many of his 559 goals from that spot.

This time, instead of going to Robitaille, the puck hit the skate of Atlanta’s Steve Staios and caromed into the net.

The goal went to Reinprecht.

Robitaille, who had six goals in the season’s first six games, was fatalistic about his reversal of fortune, and about how his resume indicates that it will reverse again.

“What goes around comes around,” he said. “Two weeks ago, [Reinprecht’s pass] went on my stick and we score. The important thing on that play is that we scored.

“Right now I’m getting shots right on the net, so it’s just a matter of time.”

*

While assistant coach Mark Hardy is guiding the defensemen and penalty killers Sunday afternoon against the New York Islanders, wife Kristina will be wending her way through the five boroughs in the New York Marathon.

It’s her first time in the race and her second marathon.

Her first was the L.A. race in 1999.

TODAY

at New Jersey, 10

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 6-6-2-0, Devils 6-3-3-0.

* Record vs. Devils--(1999-2000) 0-1.

* Update--Former King coach Larry Robinson is two players shy of the team he coached to the Stanley Cup last season, with center Jason Arnott and defenseman Scott Niedermayer still holding out. Goalie Martin Brodeur left Thursday night’s 5-3 loss to Toronto in the third period, after feeling a “pop” in his groin. Lou Lamoriello, New Jersey’s general manager, said Brodeur is fine, but the goalie did not skate Friday and the Devils summoned Frederic Henry from Albany of the AHL. The loss to Toronto ended a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2-0), and the Devils have yet to lose at home (4-0-1-0).