Line Changes Remain a Mystery for Now

King Coach Andy Murray talked cryptically about altering roles for some of his players after a victory over Florida on Saturday.

Those changes remained a mystery Sunday, in part because forward Jeff Cowan suffered a hamstring injury. Cowan was described as “day-to-day” by Murray.

“We had another injury last night, so we’re going to re-evaluate today what we can do,” Murray said.

Still, it doesn’t take Nostradamus to predict who might be affected by changes.

Luc Robitaille played one second on the power play and 11:55 overall in the Florida game. He had averaged more than four minutes on the power play in the previous seven games.

Robitaille has not played more than 12 minutes in the last four games. He has five goals and eight points this season, sitting out nine games because of a broken bone in his leg. But with his playing time reduced, it has been harder for Robitaille to be as effective.

Robitaille had no comment about the situation.

Jeremy Roenick, meanwhile, logged 15:39, skating mostly with Robitaille and checker Tom Kostopoulos. Roenick, who has five goals and 11 points, played a season-low 11:50 in Wednesday’s loss to Carolina. Murray had Roenick teamed with Craig Conroy and Pavol Demitra on his office depth chart, but said he was unsure whether he would stick with that plan.

Murray, though, walked carefully around the subject of Robitaille and Roenick, both assistant captains.

“They are two of our most positive players,” Murray said. “I don’t underestimate their contributions. When J.R. says he is doing other things, he is. He is a presence in our room. Luc is the same way.”

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Roenick is not on the Team USA short list for the Olympics, according to a source familiar with the team.... Murray said that the Kings would recall a player from Manchester, which probably would be forward Jeff Giuliano, although Murray said that forward Petr Kanko was also a possibility.