Slow Starts Still a Problem

Even the Kings, who have failed to score first in 26 of their 40 games, are tired of talking about their slow starts. The Kings are 13-1 when they score first, best in the NHL.

“We’ve been talking about this now for a month or a month and a half,” Coach Larry Robinson said. “To get off to a good start.”

The Kings have been outscored, 45-31, in the first period this season, but they have the edge over the last two periods combined, 80-67.

“We try to rely on a big flow game [constantly attacking the net] and to get our forecheck going,” Robinson said. “We want to make the other team pay by being real physical.”

It’s a game plan that suffers once the Kings fall behind.

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In addition to the eye injury center Ian Laperriere suffered in Wednesday’s 2-2 tie at Dallas, it was determined he also had a mild concussion. He is listed as day to day.