A New Low for Audette - Los Angeles Times
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A New Low for Audette

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A downward slide that has lasted 11 games hit rock bottom Thursday night when winger Donald Audette was a healthy scratch.

Audette has scored once and has three assists over the past 11 games, after compiling 10 goals and 10 assists in his first 25.

“They’re getting everything I have every time I go on the ice,” Audette said. “It’s hard to score when you’re not getting scoring chances, when you’re getting a shot a game.”

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He has averaged only two shots a game over the past 11, six of those in an 8-3 loss to the New York Rangers.

The real problem, though, is that his lack of production has prompted King coaches to focus on other aspects of his game: notably, his work at the defensive end.

“Scoring makes Donald satisfied,” Coach Andy Murray said. “Donald has to learn to become satisfied with other aspects of the game.”

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One problem with Audette is a looming contract negotiation. He is in the final year of a contract that pays him $2.2 million this season.

“I’m not thinking about it while I’m on the ice,” he said. “But you have to think about it. . . . I don’t want to happen what happened last season.”

Audette sat out the first 30-plus games of last season while with Buffalo, which eventually gave up and traded him to the Kings for a draft choice.

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