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Thursday, Oct. 7 7:30pm ET
Robitaille treats Kings with hat trick | |||||
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BOX SCORE
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Kings may never want to go home. Luc Robitaille had three goals and an assist as the Kings beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 Thursday night. Second-period power-play goals by Rob Blake and Robitaille snapped a 2-2 tie, lifting Los Angeles to 3-1-0 on a season-opening, seven-game road trip. "In terms of wins on this road trip, this is the most gratifying," Los Angeles coach Andy Murray said. "We've played four games in six nights and traveled across the country. We had a pretty intense meeting at noon hour and challenged some people and I thought the response was pretty good." The Kings allowed three goals in the final two minutes of play Wednesday in a 4-2 loss at Florida. Los Angeles had four power-play goals in six chances. Tampa Bay went 0-for-5 with the man advantage. "When we had power plays, we scored our goals and I think that's what killed them," Robitaille said. "You're not going to win many games giving up four power-play goals," Tampa Bay goalie Daren Puppa said. It was the 14th career hat trick for Robitaille, who has six goals this season and 523 for his career. "Is that what I did?" said Robitaille after being informed all his goals came on the power play. "I didn't even know. I honestly don't know (if I did it before)." Stan Drulia and Mike Sillinger scored for Tampa Bay. Drulia, a journeyman minor leaguer, hadn't scored an NHL goal since Nov. 23, 1992. The first period featured two goals and six penalties for each team. Garry Galley and Robitaille had the Los Angeles goals. Blake scored from the right circle 24 seconds into the second period, making it 3-2. Then with just under three minutes left in the second period, Robitaille scored from outside the right post. Robitaille completed his hat trick at 16:51 of the third period. "Whatever stick Luc is using, I hope he hangs on to it," Murray said. Tampa Bay forward Andreas Johansson left in the first period with a concussion after crashing into the boards following a hit by the Kings' Sean O'Donnell. He required assistance walking to the team's locker room. Tampa Bay coach Steve Ludzik said the NHL office has requested a tape of the incident. Kings goalie Jamie Storr departed after the first period with a groin injury. Stephane Fiset stopped all 17 shots he faced over the final two periods. "The guys played great in front of me," Fiset said. "They didn't gave up many second chances." Los Angeles forward Steve McKenna underwent laser surgery for a lacerated left eye Thursday. McKenna, who was hurt in Monday's game at St. Louis, will be sidelined one to two weeks. Before the game, the Lightning traded center Steve Kelly to New Jersey for a seventh-round draft pick in the 2000 draft. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Los Angeles Clubhouse Tampa Bay Clubhouse RECAPS Ottawa 4 Boston 3
Los Angeles 5 AUDIO/VIDEO   Luc Robitaille adds another goal to his league lead.avi: 693 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||