King Box Seats Lead to a Loss

Martin Straka arrived as advertised, a speedy blur of skates who will come in handy his fair share this season.

But he better get used to a pattern that has plagued the Kings all season: Take a penalty, give up a goal.

It happened Tuesday, twice, and the Kings lost to the St. Louis Blues, 4-1, before 15,632 satisfied fans at Savvis Center.

The King penalty kill had been on the rise after spending almost the entire season in the NHL basement, but Tuesday was a reminder to King fans to cover their eyes when there’s a King in the penalty box.

The Kings outshot another opponent -- do they ever not? -- but Keith Tkachuk and Dallas Drake scored first-period power-play goals for all the offense the Blues needed.

“We know the power play and penalty kill are so huge, they’ll win or lose us games,” said defenseman Mattias Norstrom, who was in the penalty box during the second goal for roughing. “Tonight was one of those games.”

Maxim Kuznetsov’s hooking penalty led to the Blues’ first goal. The two penalties were the only ones called against the Kings all game.

The Blues scored again at 8:13 in the second period, prematurely ending goaltender Roman Cechmanek’s night with six saves in nine shots.

“That would contribute to it,” King Coach Andy Murray said. “We tried to change maybe some momentum in the game.

“That save percentage doesn’t get it done for you.”

Backup Cristobal Huet stopped all 11 shots he faced. Drake scored his second goal on an empty-netter with 1:22 left.

One of Tuesday’s few positives -- other than a nice backhander by Eric Belanger for the Kings’ lone goal -- was the addition of Straka, acquired Sunday in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Straka had only one shot in 14:33 of ice time, but the speed and playmaking skills he showed should become factors as the season unfolds.

Straka left the game in the second period after being checked into the boards by Tkachuk near the King blue line. He returned later than expected, in the third period, because on-site doctors hired by the Blues did not respond quickly, Murray said.

“Martin Straka gets hurt in the seven-minute mark of the second period and the doctors finally get to our dressing room in the intermission,” Murray said.

“We were screaming for the doctors and they don’t show up. That’s unacceptable. I told them that too. We’ll call the league on that.”

Straka was diagnosed with a bruised right shoulder but said he would play Thursday against the Dallas Stars.

Straka said he felt comfortable with his new team. He played at left wing, with center Jozef Stumpel and right wing John Tripp.

“Always the first game you’re a little nervous, and you put it behind you,” he said. “I felt pretty good out there.”

He fared better than the King penalty kill, which entered the game with a 78.4% success rate, 28th out of 30 NHL teams.

“No panic,” Norstrom said of the penalty kill. “But a little step back.”