Scorers Are Not as Sharp as Fiset

Since his conditioning was questioned by Coach Larry Robinson after a 6-5 loss at Boston last week, goaltender Stephane Fiset has been sharp in his last two starts, despite his winless record.

Fiset, who dropped to 0-2-2 with Sunday’s 3-2 overtime loss at St. Louis, has kept the Kings close in his last two games with several spectacular saves, including two against the Blues’ Jim Campbell.

The Kings’ inability to score the first goal has hurt them. In all five of their games, they have fallen behind in the first period and twice they trailed by two goals before getting on the scoreboard.

“It’s always harder to play when you don’t have the lead,� Fiset said. “That was very important on our road trip. . . . The good thing is that our offense has never given up and has come back every game.

“Now that we’re back home, it’s our turn to start getting a lead first.�

The Kings will open a five-game homestand Sunday against Ottawa.

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Robinson wouldn’t mind a bit if the Kings were a little quicker on the trigger.

“We’re always trying to make that extra pass,� he said. “We have to get the guys to be more selfish and shoot more.�

Luc Robitaille is one who may have to get more active offensively. He scored twice in the first two games but has had few scoring chances the last three games.

“Luc is one of our better scorers and he’s dangerous around the net,� Robinson said. “He just has to make a concentrated effort to play and move his feet.�

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Enforcer Matt Johnson, who missed the first two games while on suspension for slashing, has more goals, one, than penalty minutes, zero.