Time for Smolinski, Heinze to Fill the Void

CALGARY, Canada â€”  Center Bryan Smolinski has not scored a goal in his last 26 games, right wing Steve Heinze in his last 25.

Their lack of production hasn’t crippled the Kings, who are 13-7-3-2 since Heinze scored his 15th goal Jan. 15 against Nashville, 12-7-3-2 since Smolinski scored his 12th Jan. 17 against Buffalo.

But Coach Andy Murray fears it might catch up with the Kings.

“We actually haven’t needed them to score,� Murray said.

“Whether it’s 25 or 26 games without a goal, whatever it is, it didn’t matter because we didn’t need the goals. But we’re going to need them now.... We think in this next short segment of [eight] games they’re going to be necessary.�

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Cliff Ronning, Nashville’s leading scorer before he was traded two weeks ago, is scoreless in six games with the Kings.

“Cliff’s been getting two or three good chances a game,� Murray said, “so we have to think those are the same goalies he was scoring against when he was with Nashville, so he’ll get his [points].�

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TONIGHT

at Calgary, 6 PST

Site--Pengrowth Saddledome.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 36-24-10-4, Flames 28-31-12-3.

Record vs. Flames--0-2-1.

Update--The Kings and Flames have gone in opposite directions since their last game, a 2-0 Calgary victory Dec. 3 at L.A. in which tJarome Iginla scored his fifth goal in three games against L.A. The Kings are 28-11-7-2 since then, the Flames 14-25-7-1.

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Jerry Crowe