Concern Growing About Morale

After being shut out for the seventh time this season when Florida blanked the Kings, 5-0, Saturday night, Coach Larry Robinson said the team’s morale is getting worse.

“I can’t remember being in a dressing room that quiet in my life,” Robinson said. “Except unless it was after losing the seventh game of the Stanley Cup.”

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Forward Matt Johnson, who has been out because of a right shoulder injury since Dec. 18, said he expects to play against Vancouver at the Forum on Tuesday. This week, the Kings may also get back some other injured players in forwards Vitali Yachmenev (ankle) and Yanic Perreault (stomach), and defensemen Sean O’Donnell (wrist) and Steven Finn (back).

Captain Rob Blake, who suffered a broken right hand on Dec. 26, is hoping to return sooner than expected. He has not ruled out playing in the All-Star game on Jan. 18 in San Jose.