Changes Don’t Stop the Slide

The King lineup was shaken up, as promised by Coach Andy Murray, but the results were only partly stirring, enough to show improvement but not nearly enough to entertain thoughts of a playoff-drive rebirth.

Despite a tangible boost from a vastly retooled lineup, the Kings lost a seventh consecutive game for the first time since 1987, falling to the Calgary Flames in overtime, 3-2, in front of 18,419 Saturday at Pengrowth Saddledome.

Two King mainstays -- Alexander Frolov and Jaroslav Modry -- found themselves in Murray’s penalty box Saturday and were spectators for their team’s best effort in almost two weeks. Sean Avery and recently acquired Jeff Cowan each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, only to be overshadowed by Shean Donovan’s goal 1:06 into overtime.

“There’s not a lot of moral victories in sport, particularly at the professional level, but sometimes you have to play good before you win,” Murray said. “Today I thought we played good; now the next step is getting a win.”

The King slump showed signs of being lifted, almost surely too late.

They’re not yet mathematically eliminated, but the Kings need a lot of help to make the playoffs. With four games left, they are five points behind the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers, who are tied in the race for the last two playoff spots in the Western Conference.

Avery, the emotional and sometimes uncontrollable forward who is tied for the NHL lead in penalty minutes, was a voice of reason afterward, acknowledging how much the Kings’ recent struggles have cost them.

“We lost [seven] in a row at the most important time of the year,” Avery said. “We eliminated ourselves from the playoffs.

“Now you just play for your pride, play for our fans. Play for ourselves in here, but the fans are the ones that pay our salaries.”

Avery was one of several Kings with new linemates Saturday.

Frolov, the Kings’ leading goal-scorer with 24, sat out because in his last three games he had taken only two shots and compiled a minus-two rating. Modry was benched because of his ill-advised no-look pass deep in the King zone that led to an Edmonton goal in Friday’s 3-1 loss.

Martin Straka, who has one assist in 10 games since returning from knee surgeries, was also a healthy scratch.

“Everything in this business is performance-related, and Marty Straka and Alexander Frolov are good hockey players.... We just need them to be good players all the time,” Murray said.

Frolov has been bothered slightly by an ankle injury, but it wasn’t the reason he watched Saturday’s game, Murray said.

“I think he’s handicapped a bit right now with a bit of a leg injury, but we need him to be better,” Murray said.

Ian Laperriere (bruised wrist) and Lubomir Visnovsky (flu-like symptoms) were also scratched.

The energy infused by Cowan, Avery, John Tripp and rookie Dustin Brown was hard to overlook.

“With the lineup changes, guys wanted to come out and work,” Avery said. “It makes a big difference.”

The Kings took care of a recent slow-starting problem with Avery’s goal on a one-timer at 5:39 of the first period.

Avery and Cowan connected at 7:23 of the second period to give the Kings a 2-1 lead. Avery started a two-on-one, waited until Cowan joined the rush for a three on two, and fed him with a cross-ice pass for a one-timer that beat Miika Kiprusoff.

But Craig Conroy tied the score at 12:12 of the period on a wrist shot that glanced off goaltender Cristobal Huet’s glove into the net.

Donovan ended the game in overtime, slowing down in a two-on-one and beating Huet to the glove side after Huet committed early by going down.

“I imagine the scoring chances were fairly equal,” Murray said. “They got that one extra shot in overtime and finished it off.”