It’s Tough to Find Positives

The word “panic” crept into the Kings’ vocabulary over the last two days.

“We can’t panic right now,” forward Eric Belanger said after Monday’s practice.

A day earlier, teammate Jeremy Roenick, “We better not be in panic mode right now.”

Maybe it is too early to push the panic button. But if there is a “seriously concerned” button around, the Kings may need it heading into tonight’s game against Toronto..

Just two weeks ago, the Kings had the third-most points in the NHL, one point behind Western Conference-leading Detroit, after a 6-3 victory over St. Louis on Nov. 22.

Since then, the Kings have been in freefall, losing five of six games, including the last four, and are sixth in the Western Conference, with Edmonton and Colorado gaining.

“We just need to get back to working hard and playing our system,” Roenick said.

That can cover so much.

The Kings’ power play is in a five-for-54 funk since scoring three power-play goals against Vancouver on Nov. 17. They also have allowed short-handed goals in each of the last two games. The Kings’ penalty killers have not held a team without a power-play goal since Columbus Nov. 11 and have allowed eight goals in the last four games.

The Kings, averaging more than four goals a game two weeks ago, have averaged only two goals a game in the six games since.

“I think what we need to do is get back to basics,” Belanger said. “When you get on a roll like this, everyone just tries to do too much. Everybody has to just do their jobs and learn from what has happened recently.”

Outside help doesn’t seem to be on the horizon. General Manager Dave Taylor said he was not pursuing any deals at the moment.

“I do see what is out there, but I like our team, I think we’ll be fine,” Taylor said.

*

The Sean Avery flee circus rolled into Toronto, as he fled out the door on to the team bus after practice Monday.

A horde of media, including four television crews, were poised to corral the Kings’ forward. Instead, he said “no comment” to one reporter and briskly walked past the cameras.

Avery has not spoken to the media since Friday morning, the day of the Kings’ rugby-like game against the Ottawa Senators.

Avery has been in big demand from the media on this trip, which is the Kings’ first visit to Canada since he made derogatory comments about French Canadian players.

*

TONIGHT

at Toronto, 4;30 PST, FSN West

Site -- Air Canada Centre.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Kings 16-11-1, Maple Leafs 15-10-3.

Record vs. Maple Leafs (2003-04) -- 0-0-1.

Update -- Roenick, who went to the hospital to be treated for pneumonia Sunday, said he would play tonight.