Yachmenev Turns a Corner

Right wing Vitali Yachmenev hasn’t scored an NHL goal yet this season, but his play along the boards has impressed Coach Larry Robinson.

“I like the way he has battled in the corners,” Robinson said of Yachmenev, who has one assist in two games with the Kings. “Last year, I don’t think he worked like this in the corners.”

After sitting out training camp because of a contract dispute, Yachmenev has spent most of the season with Long Beach in the International Hockey League, where he has 19 goals and 43 points in 51 games. He was recalled Tuesday.

Because the Kings have been hit hard with injuries, Yachmenev is expected to get more playing time over the final weeks of the regular season.

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If center Jozef Stumpel can score 12 points over the final 13 regular-season games, he will finish with the most points scored by a King since Wayne Gretzky recorded 130 in 1993-94.

Stumpel, who is on a five-game scoring streak, is sixth in the league with 51 assists and has a team-high 70 points. He needs six to tie his career high established last season with the Boston Bruins.

TONIGHT

vs. San Jose

* 7:30

* Fox Sports West

Site--Great Western Forum.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Kings 33-25-11, Sharks 27-36-7.

Record vs. Sharks--3-1.

Update--Tonight’s game will be the third meeting in 10 days between the teams, and the Kings are coming off a 4-3 win at San Jose on Tuesday. The Kings’ list of players not expected to play because of injury includes Ray Ferraro, Matt Johnson, Nathan LaFayette, Doug Zmolek, Luc Robitaille and Frederic Chabot. Stephane Fiset is expected to start in goal for the Kings. San Jose has lost four consecutive games, but the Sharks should have defenseman Bryant Marchment and forward Joe Murphy--both acquired in trades Tuesday--in the lineup for the first time. Center Jeff Friesen leads the Sharks with 24 goals.