Storr Recalled; Yachmenev Isn’t

Instead of recalling right wing Vitali Yachmenev to help their struggling offense Wednesday, the Kings brought up goaltender Jamie Storr from the Long Beach Ice Dogs.

Storr, the seventh overall pick in the 1994 draft, had been playing in the International Hockey League since Oct. 28 and had a 6-1-1 record in eight starts. Frederic Chabot, 1-2-2 with the Kings, was sent down to the IHL and will rejoin the Houston Aeros, with whom he played last season.

Yachmenev, who held out during training camp, has five goals and 16 points in 16 games with the Ice Dogs. King Coach Larry Robinson said Yachmenev was not recalled because the Kings believe they have enough players who can score.

“[Yachmenev] has been playing well down there . . . [recalling] him is always a possibility but you have to show confidence in the guys who have gotten you here so far,� said Robinson, whose team has scored only seven goals in its current six-game winless streak. “Yes, we are not scoring goals, but rather than change people we have to find out the reasons why we are not scoring goals. . . . No. 1, we are not shooting and No. 2 we’re not committed to going to the net as much as we were.�

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The King defense also has had problems since Dec. 1, another reason they are 0-5-1 this month.

“We’re not playing well . . . we’re running around in our zone and as a result, when we do get the puck, no one is in position to go on offense,� Robinson said. “When we do go on offense, everyone is trying to be fancy and beat everyone at the blue line. . . . That’s been the difference . . . our execution. We have the same guys, the same people that we had at the start of the year but those people just aren’t committed right now to playing the game the way it should be and that’s hard and at top speed.�

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Left wing Craig Johnson did not practice because of flu and is doubtful for tonight’s game against Toronto. So is defenseman Philippe Boucher, whose wife Lucie delivered a baby boy named Mathew early Wednesday morning.

TONIGHT

vs. Toronto

* 7:30 p.m.

* Fox Sports

West

Site--Forum.

Radio--XTRA 690.

Records--Kings 12-14-6, Maple Leafs 11-16-5.

Record vs. Maple Leafs--0-1.

Update--The Kings were embarrassed by the Maple Leafs, 7-2, in Toronto earlier this month. Robinson said he will stay with his top lines of Jozef Stumpel-Luc Robitaille-Sandy Moger and Yanic Perreault-Vladimir Tsyplakov-Glen Murray. The Kings are 52-52-20 in their all-time series with the Maple Leafs.