Kings’ issues crop up again

Next up, Sean Burke.

Barry Brust has been a bust. The Yutaka Fukufuji novelty seems to have run its course. Dan Cloutier is recovering from hip surgery. Mathieu Garon is skating to stay in shape, but is unable to catch a puck because of a broken finger.

So the Kings’ goaltending situation remains as it has been through much of the franchise’s 40-year history -- a black hole bathed in a red light.

Burke, nearer to AARP eligibility than his rookie season, comes to town as a safety net after being claimed on waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Unfortunately for the Kings, Burke was in transit and, like a chunk of the announced 16,544 at Staples Center, did not show up until after the 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

The loss left the Kings last in the Western Conference and underscored the need for some help in net. Brust and Fukufuji shared the job and were not dreadful, but they were not up to the task of ending what is now a six-game losing streak, either.

Dallas Drake scored two goals and Doug Weight one, the Blues’ third victory over the Kings since former Kings coach Andy Murray became their coach.

Said Murray: “Some one said, ‘Do you feel good about beating the Kings?’ I probably don’t feel as good as beating any other team.”

The Kings, in hot pursuit of the Philadelphia Flyers for the worst record in the NHL, will likely take little solace in that.

“We seem to find ways to lose games,” Michael Cammalleri said.

That too often has been in net. Only the Flyers have given up more goals per game than the Kings.

“It’s tough to win games when you’re depending on that much night in and night out,” team captain Mattias Norstrom said. “The entire team is responsible, it’s not one guy.”

Brust, expected to be sent to Manchester (N.H.) today, and Fukufuji, the first Japanese-born player in the NHL, have struggled, giving up 18 goals in the four games since Garon was put on injured reserve. Still, the goaltending problem predates both of them.

“You look at our team and it has not been the performance in just that area,” Coach Marc Crawford said. But he also conceded, “it is an area that has to improve.”

That has been Kings-speak for decades. Burke will be the 38th different player to start at least one game in net for the Kings in the last 20 seasons.

Cloutier was to be the latest answer. His hip surgery may have been the cause of his woeful play, though that won’t be known until he plays again. Until then, he is left with three disturbing numbers -- a 3.98-goals against average, a .860 save percentage and a $6.2-million contract extension.

Garon could have claimed the job twice, but was injured both times. “We brought Dan here to be a competent NHL goaltender,” Crawford said.

“We knew he wasn’t a top-level guy. He was just below that. Unfortunately, we won’t find out how he is until at least the end of this season.”

Burke, who will turn 40 on Jan. 29, comes in as a band-aid until Garon is ready. By the time he was scheduled to land in Los Angeles, the Kings were trailing, 2-0.

Drake beat Brust twice with deflections in the first period. After the Kings’ Raitis Ivanans cut the lead in half in the second period, Doug Weight scored to give the Blues another two-goal cushion.

Chris.foster@latimes.com