Torchetti Bemoans Results

Coach John Torchetti was an overnight express delivery from Boston who was asked to salvage the Kings’ season March 21.

He replaced Andy Murray, whom the team had long since tuned out after five-plus seasons. The results have not gone as Torchetti hoped, and it looks as if his time with the Kings will end when General Manager Dave Taylor is fired, which is expected to happen after the season ends.

Yet, Torchetti can be credited with doing a credible job of bailing water, even though the Kings have a 4-7 record since he was brought in as interim coach. They remained in the playoff race until Thursday.

“I was brought here for a reason and it is difficult to see [the season] come to an end,” Torchetti said. “Of course I wanted better results and I still feel we should have won more at the end. I’m disappointed that I couldn’t have gotten us to win. Dave gave me a great opportunity.”

Torchetti has insisted on accepting blame for the Kings’ inability to secure a playoff spot, even though the Kings’ many lackluster efforts down the stretch seemed beyond his control.

“I’m the coach and it’s my job to get the team prepared to win games,” said Torchetti, previously an assistant with Tampa Bay and Florida. “Maybe I should have sat some players a little earlier. Accountability in the locker room is what makes a hockey team flourish.”

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Luc Robitaille, who played his last game at Staples Center on Saturday, was planning to use 25 sticks in the game and joked that “Torchetti will have to play me a lot or else I’ll be changing sticks during shifts.” ... Kings center Craig Conroy suffered a knee injury in the first period and did not return.