Robitaille Told to Have a Seat

The result was the same as it has been for almost a month -- no victory -- but the Kings’ energy level was rafter-high and shots were humming off their sticks as they had earlier this season, albeit with a markedly different cast of characters Wednesday night in a 2-2 tie with the Minnesota Wild.

Luc Robitaille, the top goal-scoring left wing of all time, was a healthy scratch for only the second time in his career, a decision by Coach Andy Murray that didn’t sit well with the team’s second-leading scorer.

But there was little room for argument after the final numbers were posted before a sellout crowd of 18,528 Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center.

The Kings outshot the Wild, 46-23, their largest differential since the second game of the season, and also out-chanced their opponent in scoring opportunities by a similar two-to-one ratio.

The one number the Kings couldn’t change -- a 13-game winless streak (0-3-9-1) -- was almost lost amid the upbeat locker room of a team now in a three-way tie for eighth in the Western Conference.

Last week, the Kings lost Ziggy Palffy and Martin Straka to substantial injuries. This week, they have two ties in two road games, with two more road games to come against the two worst teams in the Western Conference.

Too much? Not for the Kings.

When asked if he was disappointed about not winning, Murray fired back, almost offended.

“I don’t know how you can put ‘disappointed’ in the same words with our effort here tonight,” Murray said. “What we’re doing right now, good things are going to happen to us.”

Robitaille didn’t necessarily feel a good thing happened to him.

Murray informed Robitaille earlier in the day he would be taking the night off. Robitaille disagreed with the decision, but it stood.

Murray told reporters that Robitaille was being rested, citing an arduous part of the schedule in which the Kings played their fifth game in eight nights. Robitaille had 19 minutes 16 seconds of ice time Tuesday against the Nashville Predators, the most of any King forward.

“I’ve had this in my mind for a while,” Murray said. “We’ve been having a tough schedule. These are the decisions you make. It’s only to make sure the best of Luc Robitaille is to come.”

Robitaille’s take: “He said he wanted to rest me. I said I can rest in practice. I feel really good. I thought I was skating well. It’s disappointing for sure. We talked, and that’s his decision.”

Robitaille, a healthy scratch once last season with the Detroit Red Wings, said Murray told him he would play Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Robitaille, who will turn 38 next month, started strong this season with three goals in the first five games but scored only two goals over the next 22 games and has scored sporadically since then.

On the other hand, Robitaille, who has 639 goals in his career, is the Kings’ second-leading scorer with 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists). Robitaille’s place in the lineup was taken by Scott Barney, who staked the Kings a 2-1 lead on a slap shot from atop the right circle at 6:07 of the second period. It was Barney’s first NHL goal in a career sidetracked by back problems.

The Kings’ second-round selection in the 1997 draft, Barney missed three seasons because of a severe back injury that confounded doctors. Barney, 26, resumed playing last season and has a team-high 19 goals this season with Manchester (N.H.), prompting the injury-depleted Kings to recall him.

“This is very rewarding,” said Barney, who has had two operations on his back. “I’m merely happy to be in the NHL.”

The Kings couldn’t quite make Barney’s goal stand up as the winner -- Nick Schultz scored almost two minutes later -- but the Kings will take the tie, their fifth in the last six games.

“We played with a lot of energy and passion,” Murray said. “This [energy] has to become habitual. This has to be the way we play.”