Bounces Starting to Go Robitaille’s Way on Ice

Luc Robitaille, who has more goals than any left wing in NHL history, felt miserable. He couldn’t wait for the end.

His slump? Not quite; those happen. Head colds, however, are the worst.

“Can’t seem to shake it,” he said Thursday after scoring in a second consecutive game, perhaps signaling the end of a drought that has plagued him for more than a month.

Before Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Thrashers, Robitaille had gone 12 games without a goal and failed to score in 20 of his previous 22 games. This after a torrid start in which he had three goals in the Kings’ first five games.

Slumps are part of the game for any player, including Robitaille, who has 638 goals in 18 seasons. He has learned over the years to keep going to the net to end slides such as the recent one.

“For a while, it wasn’t bouncing,” said Robitaille, 37. “It’s starting to bounce my way now. That’s the way this game goes. [Coach] Andy [Murray] talked to me and said, ‘Don’t worry about it -- you’re doing the right things and playing in the right positions. You keep doing that and sooner or later it happens.’ ”

Robitaille now has seven goals, almost two-thirds of his production last season when he had a career-low 11 with the Detroit Red Wings.

“I’m not really counting yet,” Robitaille said. “The team’s playing real well. If we keep pounding like that we’re going to make some damage later. It’s a lot of fun right now.”

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Goaltender Roman Cechmanek is day-to-day after colliding Thursday with Nashville center David Legwand. Cechmanek, diagnosed with a bruised hip, will be replaced tonight against the St. Louis Blues by Cristobal Huet, who stopped 29 of 30 shots Thursday in relief of Cechmanek.

Huet’s backup will be Milan Hnilicka, recalled Friday from minor-league affiliate Manchester (N.H.). Enforcer Kip Brennan, out since Dec. 1 because of a charley horse in his leg, was put on injured reserve to make room for Hnilicka, who was 3-5 at Manchester with a .897 save percentage.

Defenseman Aaron Miller, out with what the Kings are referring to as an “upper-body injury,” could play tonight.

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TONIGHT

at St. Louis, 5, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Savvis Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 15-10-1-3, Blues 17-6-2-1

Record vs. Blues -- 0-2-0.

Update -- The Blues’ defense has already stymied the Kings twice -- 1-0 at Staples Center and 3-1 in St. Louis. The Kings are finishing a four-game trip that has produced four of a possible six points so far.