ROBITAILLE LIFTS KINGS HIS TWO GOALS HELP L.A. REBOUND FROM TORONTO LOSS KINGS 5, NY ISLANDERS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Luc Robitaille keeps climbing. He just hopes the Kings will, too.

Robitaille's two goals in Monday night's 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders gives him 541 for his career and ties him with Stan Mikita for 19th on the all-time list.

But coming off the Kings' most painful loss of the season, Saturday in Toronto, where they blew a two-goal, third-period lead, Robitaille has far more than history on his mind.

The Kings needed this victory over a weak nonconference opponent, which had beaten the Mighty Ducks and San Jose Sharks on the first two legs of its California trip. The Kings (21-21-7) have not won back-to-back games since Nov. 16 and are tied for seventh with Edmonton in the Western Conference.

``A lot of great things have happened to me in the past two years,'' said Robitaille, who scored his 500th goal on Jan. 7, 1999 and played in his 1,000th game on Jan. 4 of this year. ``All that really matters is the Stanley Cup. The numbers are something you look at after you retire. They're nice, but without winning they are kind of hollow.''

In front of 14,903 at Staples Center on Monday, Robitaille led a resurgence of the Kings first line, which has been disrupted all season by injuries. Robitaille missed a month with a broken left foot and Jozef Stumpel was sidelined for 10 weeks with knee and abdominal problems. Ziggy Palffy has been bothered by back spasms.

Robitaille finished with three points, including an assist. Stumpel scored the game's first goal and added two assists. Palffy, who with Bryan Smolinski came over from the Islanders in a trade last summer, had three assists, which tied a career high last set Feb. 29, 1997.

``Playing them wasn't really special,'' said Palffy, who was traded as part of a salary purge by the Islanders (13-31-6). ``What was more important was winning the game after what happened in Toronto. That one really hurt. It was good that we regrouped.''

Stumpel scored after a pretty back-door pass by Robitaille from behind the Islanders net. He beat New York goaltender Kevin Weekes for his fourth goal of the season but his second in five games since returning from a torn muscle in his left knee.

Robitaille got both of his in the second period, tying Mikita, a Hall of Famer who teamed with the legendary Bobby Hull in Chicago during the 1960s and early 1970s.

His first came just 1:55 into the period when he took a cross-ice pass from Stumpel that first nicked off Palffy's skate before landing in front.

The second was classic Robitaille, coming on a rebound after a shot by defenseman Mattias Norstrom.

``People kind of take him for granted,'' Stumpel said. ``But he just does it year after year.''

In between, Glen Murray scored from the slot on a crisp pass from Stumpel. It was Murray's 16th of the year but just his third since Dec. 10. Like the rest, Murray has been sidelined with injuries, missing three games earlier this month with a deep chest bruise.

``Both lines contributed tonight and that is what we need,'' general manager Dave Taylor said. ``That's where the offense has to come from with the third and fourth lines chipping in once and a while.''

Kings goaltender Stephane Fiset lost his shutout 4:01 into the third period when Jamie Heward scored in front.

It was the third consecutive solid effort by Fiset, who lost 3-2 to the Maple Leafs on Saturday. Toronto scored the winning goal on a tipin by Steve Thomas with 18.9 seconds left.

The Kings led 2-0 heading into the third period and appeared headed for their second consecutive victory.

After beating the Islanders on Monday, the Kings' next chance comes Thursday against the mighty Detroit Red Wings.

``We'll be ready,'' Robitaille said.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Kings defenseman Sean O'Donnell (left) battles the Islanders' Evgeny Korolev for the puck.

(2) Kings goalie Stephane Fiset makes a save in the first period of L.A.'s 5-2 victory over New York. Play was stopped for 10 minutes after Fiset was hurt after being struck by the Islanders' Steve Webb.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News