Robitaille Saves His Best Shot for Last

The Anson Carter era began with a missed flight, lost luggage and two hours of sleep.

It ended with a late goal, a King victory and the continuation of a playoff pursuit that is closer than the edge of a skate blade.

Luc Robitaille ensured a King victory, drilling a one-timer from the slot with 3:10 left in the third period, and the Kings defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-2, before a delighted crowd of 18,118 Tuesday at Staples Center. Carter, acquired Monday from the Washington Capitals, could be forgiven for looking a little off because of a frenzied arrival that began with a missed flight Monday night, continued with a missing garment bag after his arrival Tuesday morning and ended with a minus-one rating and only one shot in 15:36 of ice time primarily with the Kings’ fourth line.

The Kings, on the other hand, could not have been forgiven had they failed to pull out a victory against the rapidly declining Coyotes, now winless in nine consecutive games since a trading spree that began last month.

But Robitaille saved the day, pulling the Kings out of a fog with his 650th career goal.

The go-ahead goal started with Trent Klatt scooping up the puck behind the net after Phoenix goaltender Brent Johnson failed to control a dump-in by the Kings.

Klatt skated along the left boards and zipped a pass to Robitaille in the upper slot for a one-timer by the oldest guy on the ice, the highest goal-scoring left wing in NHL history whose career has been rejuvenated by a 19-goal performance so far this season.

“Great for Luc to step up and get that big goal for us,” King Coach Andy Murray said. “He’s done that a lot in his career for the Kings. That was a big one as well.” Big enough to keep the Kings from lagging behind in a four-team chase for the final three playoff spots in the Western Conference.

The Calgary Flames are in sixth with 77 points, followed by the Nashville Predators with 76 points and the Kings and St. Louis Blues each with 75. The Blues have six more wins than the Kings. The Kings have little time to discuss playoff combinations. They play the Coyotes again tonight, this time on the road.

“Big game for us,” said Robitaille, who turned 38 last month. “These points are so important. We’re going to go after them.”

They’ll have Carter with them, perhaps with a good night’s sleep.

“I didn’t have my legs under me,” Carter said. “That’s for sure. The lack of rest I think showed. There’s times when you don’t have your legs under you and you have to play smart. I tried to do the best I can.”

Lost in the shuffle of Carter’s debut was the return of defenseman Aaron Miller, who had sat out 39 games because of a pinched nerve in his neck that limited the strength in his right shoulder.

Murray was also a sidelight in the victory, coaching his 396th career game with the Kings and tying Bob Pulford’s team record. Murray is two victories short of tying Pulford’s team record of 178 career victories.

Alexander Frolov’s individual effort put the Kings ahead, 2-0, at 11:36 of the second period. Frolov turned defenseman Bryan Helmer inside-out atop the left circle and beat Johnson to the short side for his 21st goal.

But the Coyotes stormed back with two goals in a 2:20 span of the second period from Mike Comrie and Shane Doan. In the end, with players new and old in the lineup, there was a King victory.

“Obviously a big win for our team tonight,” Murray said.