Team Struggling to Stay Healthy

The day after was not much better for the Kings.

Still dealing with a hangover from being pasted, 6-2, by the Mighty Ducks on Saturday, the Kings faced more questions about their health. Defensemen Tim Gleason, Aaron Miller and Lubomir Visnovsky sat out practice Sunday.

Miller had just returned from a back injury, Visnovsky hobbled off the ice Saturday because of a sore left knee, and Gleason sat out because of an injured left knee. Coach Andy Murray said Miller and Visnovsky would play tonight against the Ducks.

Miller, who was sidelined for 16 games because of the back injury, said he would play but added he needed to get in “game shape.”

Visnovsky, who returned to the game after being injured, said he was fine despite receiving treatment on his knee Sunday.

Gleason was unavailable for comment.

The physical problems were only one issue for a team that has lost eight of its last 11 games.

“If it was just one thing, it would be easy to take care of,” captain Mattias Norstrom said after Saturday’s game. “But there are a lot of things that we need to improve on.”

The King power play produced two goals in eight chances. But the Kings squandered a five-minute power play, in which they had a two-man advantage for two minutes, in the third period.

The Kings have given up 16 power-play goals in the last eight games, including four by the Ducks on Saturday. “I told some of our guys if they can’t kill penalties, they can’t play for us,” Murray said.

“We have to trust each other right now,” Luc Robitaille said. “Everyone just needs to do their jobs. It seems like everyone is trying to make the great play to get us out of this slump. We have to stick to basics.”

*

The Kings held a breakfast with the general manager for fans Sunday. Their main concern was the power play, with the blame being put on assistant coach John Van Boxmeer.

Murray, trying to blunt the criticism, said, “The buck stops here. I’m responsible for the power play and the penalty kill.”