Robinson Tries to Put a Finer Edge on Skaters

The injury-plagued Kings might still have five games left on their 10-day trip and the playoffs might be less than a month away but that didn’t stop Coach Larry Robinson from putting the team through a 45-minute “skate only” workout in Calgary before traveling to Toronto on Sunday.

“Larry is the coach and he has to do what he has to do,” veteran right wing Russ Courtnall said about Robinson’s ploy to turn around the slumping Kings, who have lost five of their last eight games.

“Every day now counts. We have to get out of this by trying to be as positive as we can. We’ve won this year by sticking together and this team needs to maintain that. We’re not a good enough team to separate and go our own ways. We have to go together in the same direction.”

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Before the NHL Olympic break in February, Courtnall was one of the hottest offensive players on the team with five goals in three games. Since the break, Courtnall hasn’t scored. “I came back and I was getting chances, but I haven’t been able to put it in,” said Courtnall, who has been used primarily in a defensive role this season.

“The last couple of games, I haven’t had the chances I was getting early on. What can I say? It hasn’t been going in. I have to work it out. It’s important because we need guys like myself to chip in goals. We can’t rely on [Jozef Stumpel] and Glen Murray to do it every night for us.”

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Center Ray Ferraro, who has missed the last three games because of soreness and swelling in his left knee, is closer to returning to the lineup. He hopes to play this week but said that he will not be able to play back-to-back games the rest of the season. Forward Matt Johnson could also be back soon after missing three games because of a biceps injury.

TONIGHT

vs. Toronto

* 4:30

* Fox Sports

West

Site--Maple Leaf Gardens.

Radio--XTRA 690 (AM)

Records--Kings 33-27-11; Maple Leafs 26-37-9.

Record vs. Maple Leafs--1-2.

Update--After losing consecutive games to San Jose and Calgary--two teams the Kings have dominated this season--they will face a Toronto team that has outscored them, 11-8, in winning two of three games. The Maple Leafs are still in contention for the playoffs and have won two in a row, including a dramatic come-from-behind overtime victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Goaltender Felix Potvin has five shutouts and has made 15 consecutive starts.