Visnovsky’s scoring slows

The Kings’ Lubomir Visnovsky signed a five-year contract extension during the summer after he scored a career-high 18 goals and 40 assists last season.

But it has been a much different story for Visnovsky this season. After 24 games, Visnovsky has scored only once with 14 assists and 38 shots on goal.

A problem? Not exactly, according to Coach Marc Crawford.

“It’s more a function of how the league is right now,” Crawford said. “Defensemen have to be back now because so much of the game has that long stretch pass into the zone.

“There’s not as much opportunity to join the rush as there has been in previous seasons.”

Heading into Friday, Pittsburgh’s Sergei Gonchar led all NHL defensemen in scoring with six goals and 24 points, followed by Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom, who has three goals and 23 points.

Last season, the Ducks’ Scott Niedermayer led all defensemen in scoring with 14 goals and 69 points.

Visnovsky said it would be nice to score more goals but his main concern is the Kings.

“I don’t have the goals like last year, but I play for the team,” Visnovsky said. “Maybe shooting a little more will get more goals, but not always.

“Sometimes you are lucky; you shoot the puck in the zone and it goes in. Then [there are] times when you have two guys open and make a perfect pass and no score.”

The Kings, who need points to get back into the Western Conference picture, would love to have Visnovsky find at the net more, starting tonight against Colorado at Staples Center.

“He is a very streaky player,” Crawford said. “He’s always been that type so when he does start scoring he is very likely to score six or seven goals in 10 games.

“We are looking for that type of stretch over the next month. . . . It would be great to see him catch fire.”

--

The Kings could have forward Michael Cammalleri, who sat out Wednesday’s victory at San Jose because of a groin injury, back in the lineup tonight.

Defenseman Jaroslav Modry, who left the team to be with his sick father in the Czech Republic, has returned and also could play.

Forward Alexander Frolov is out because of groin injury and is listed as week to week. Forward Scott Thornton, who has been on the injured list because of a sternum injury, practiced Friday.

TONIGHT

vs. Colorado, 7:30, FSN West

Radio -- 1150.

Site -- Staples Center.

Records -- Kings 10-13-1, Avalanche 13-9-1.

Record vs. Avalanche -- 3-1.

Update -- Over the first two months of the season, Colorado has dominated the Northwest Division. The Avalanche are 8-1-1 against division rivals, including a 4-0 record over Edmonton.

--

lonnie.white@latimes.com