Robitaille Fans Out in Force

By Lonnie White

Nov. 11, 2001 12 AM PT

Moments before the start of Saturday night’s game against Detroit, the Kings honored Luc Robitaille with a video tribute and Staples Center fans gave the two-time former King a lengthy ovation.

It was a nice salute, but the real story was how so many fans showed up in full strength to root for Robitaille, who became the 13th player in NHL history to reach 600 goals when he scored against the Mighty Ducks Friday night at the Arrowhead Pond.

“I’m hugely disappointed in the fact that the Kings didn’t offer him [a contract] good enough to keep him,” said Michelle Hefner of West Covina, a King season-ticket holder who wore a Red Wing Robitaille jersey.

“But he’s in a great place with Detroit because he has a chance to actually win a Stanley Cup, which he didn’t have in L.A.”

Hefner wasn’t the only King fan who rooted for Robitaille and the Red Wings on Saturday. Based on the numerous No. 20 jerseys in the stands, it could have easily been Luc Robitaille night.

Robitaille said it didn’t really matter where he scored his 600th goal.

“It’s one of those things. You never want to wait,” said Robitaille, who scored 520 of his goals in a King uniform. “If you do that, it might not come for a while.”

As expected, the Kings had forward Ziggy Palffy and defenseman Aaron Miller, who both had been on injured reserve because of back spasms, back in the lineup. Miller had sat out eight consecutive games, while Palffy had missed four.

In order to make roster room for Palffy and Miller, the Kings assigned defenseman Jaroslav Bednar to Manchester of the American Hockey League.

Because the Kings do not play again until they host Dallas on Thursday, Coach Andy Murray said the break should help.

“It’s really a good situation,” Murray said. “To have a game and then have four more days to work. ... Sometimes, you have three games in four days and when that happens there is usually an adrenaline drop after the first game.”

Defenseman Mathieu Schneider did not dress against the Red Wings because of injuries to his hip and groin, which have been bothering him for a while, according to Murray.

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Net Finders

NHL’s career goal leaders (through Saturday’s games):

1. Wayne Gretzky 894

2. Gordie Howe 801

3. Marcel Dionne 731

4. Phil Esposito 717

5. Mike Gartner 708

6. Brett Hull* 656

7. Mark Messier* 654

8. Mario Lemieux* 649

8. Steve Yzerman* 649