Mental Toughness Cited in Streak

The Kings’ three-game winning streak could not have come at a better time for a team that won three games in December.

“I think that we’ve been together mentally [in the last three games],” said Dimitri Khristich, who has three goals and seven points during the streak. “It used to be that we would give up once we got down but not lately.”

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Forward Vitali Yachmenev, who has been sidelined because of an ankle injury, skated without any problems on Monday and could play tonight at Detroit. The same is true of defenseman Steven Finn, whose back injury also has improved. The only Kings definitely out for tonight’s game are defensemen Sean O’Donnell (wrist) and Rob Blake (hand). King Coach Larry Robinson said it is unlikely that Blake will play in Saturday’s All-Star game in San Jose.