Robitaille Says He Has Broken Ankle

King forward Luc Robitaille said Tuesday that he is out at least three weeks because of a fractured right ankle, which happened in a game against Edmonton Oct. 11. Robitaille learned of the injury after undergoing a new MRI exam Monday.

“The doctor called and said it was really bad,” said Robitaille, who is four goals from Marcel Dionne’s King record of 550. “He said it was broken inside and had started cracking, getting wider and wider. It was almost to the edge, so it almost broke all the way through.

“I remember exactly when it happened. I got slashed in the second period by the goalie. I remember dropping to the ice really hurting. I knew it wasn’t good then.”

Still, Robitaille has played seven games with the injury, as tests by the Kings continued to come up negative. He underwent an MRI exam after the game and a bone scan last week.

“Nothing showed up,” Robitaille said. “I just kept playing on it. But it felt like it was getting worse every game.”

Robitaille sat out practice Monday because of what Coach Andy Murray at the time said was a slightly sprained ankle that would not keep the star forward out of the lineup against Dallas tonight.

But Murray said Tuesday that he found out the extent of the injury only that morning, before the team left for Dallas. Losing Robitaille severely weakens the Kings up front. They are without three of their projected top six forwards.

Derek Armstrong has sat out two games because of a groin injury and was put on injured reserve Tuesday, retroactive to Oct. 25. Valeri Bure has not played since the exhibition season because of what Murray has said is a protruding disk in his back. Bure received epidural injections the last two weeks, but did not have one this week, as team doctors were waiting to see whether he responded.

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TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5:30 PST, FSNW

Site -- American Airlines Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Kings 8-4-0-0, Stars 6-4-1-0.

Record vs. Stars -- 1-1.

Update -- Jason LaBarbera will start in goal tonight, the first time this season the Kings have used the same goaltender in consecutive games. Defenseman Mike Weaver did not make the trip because of a foot injury, the Kings said. Richard Petiot was recalled from Manchester.