Blake Is on the Move With Power Play Struggling

Rob Blake makes a good bit of his living at the blue line, on the right side of the ice, blasting away at goalies while on the Kings’ power play.

It has earned him eight goals this season, 63 in his career, but not one since Dec. 30, when he scored on a power play against Edmonton.

That’s one of the reasons he was hanging around the crease Saturday at Toronto, then again Monday against the New York Islanders. Blake skated in, turned around to tip any teammate’s offering and took the defensive punishment.

“We’re trying to move people around a bit,” Blake said Wednesday. “I think every team knows that, for me, the shot from the point is big. They know that it’s our first [option] on the power play.”

Blake had four power-play goals in the Kings’ first eight games, all but one on passes from Ziggy Palffy. The word got out.

Opposing penalty killers learned to cheat a bit toward Blake, cutting off passing lanes.

The Kings responded by moving Blake from the right side to the left side of the power-play formation and now are allowing him to roam a bit, with Garry Galley handling the defensive pressure and Palffy moving to the blue line on occasion.

“We’re getting better puck movement,” Coach Andy Murray said.

But only seven power-play goals in the 13 games played in January and none by Blake.

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Winger Donald Audette, who had been pointing for a return to the lineup tonight against Detroit, instead was off the ice Tuesday and Wednesday after falling during a Monday practice. He has a sprained ankle that will keep him out until after the All-Star break.

TONIGHT

vs. Detroit, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 22-21-7-3, Red Wings 31-15-6-1.

* Record vs. Red Wings--0-1-1.

* Update--After a vociferous protest of referee Scott Zelkin’s decision to wave off Nicklas Lidstrom’s goal because Tomas Holmstrom interfered with Phoenix goalie Sean Burke, Detroit decided Tuesday that the ruling was correct. It helped the Coyotes beat Detroit, 5-3, on Monday at Phoenix. The Red Wings stayed in Arizona afterward to get in a little golf after playing four games in six nights. The Kings will start Stephane Fiset in goal for the third game in a row and fourth time in their last five games.

* Tickets--(888) 546-4752.