KINGS NOTEBOOK: ALL THE KINGS' MEN SUMMONED BY MURRAY.Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer Kings coach Andy Murray called a practice Thursday but told his players not to bring their skates. Murray is facing the toughest task of his first season, putting the Kings back together after getting crushed on consecutive nights in New Jersey and New York. There was no yelling or screaming during the 45-minute session at the Forum, but there was a definite sense of urgency in the meeting held less than 12 hours after the team landed in Los Angeles. ``It is obvious we have to identify what we've learned and use it to regain our focus,'' Murray said. ``This is a team that went into those games as one of the best in our conference. We didn't do that with smoke and mirrors smoke and mirrors - Marketing deceptions. The term is mainstream in this general sense. Among hackers it's strongly associated with bogus demos and crocked benchmarks (see also MIPS, machoflops). "They claim their new box cranks 50 MIPS for under $5000, but didn't specify the instruction mix - sounds like smoke and mirrors to me.. But now we have to make sure we do it again.'' The Kings, who face Chicago on Saturday at Staples Center, need to do it if they want to stay ahead of surging Dallas and Anaheim. The defending Stanley Cup champion Stars are just three points behind the Kings in the Western Conference. The Mighty Ducks are four points back. And they might have to do it without Jamie Storr, who clearly was not the same goaltender against the Devils and Rangers that he has been against the rest of the league. Storr was pulled after the first period in both games after allowing a total of nine goals. Storr, who hit the back of his head late in last Saturday's game in Montreal, arrived at Thursday's practice complaining of dizziness. He was examined and cleared before Tuesday's and Wednesday's games but will be seen today by team internist Michael Mellman. There is the possibility of post-concussion disorder, which often is not detected until 48 hours later. Stephane Fiset, who played the final two periods in both games, should start in goal against the Blackhawks. There also is a chance that Murray could do a little juggling with his first and second lines, although he says he likes to keep his groups intact. Luc Robitaille and Ziggy Palffy have just returned from injuries and might play with different combinations. Robitaille, who has just one goal since returning from a broken left foot, could wind up teaming with two of the Kings' hottest offensive players, Bryan Smolinski and Glen Murray. Murray said there were definite differences between the 7-1 loss to the Devils on Tuesday and the 8-3 rout by the Rangers the next night. He said the Devils game was far more distressing because the work ethic that made the Kings the best road team in the NHL had vanished. Against the Rangers, where the Kings gave up six goals in the first period for the first time in team history, there were epic mental lapses. But Murray said bad decisions are far less distressing than failing to play hard. Before the team meeting, Murray spoke with general manager Dave Taylor. The two also met with captain Rob Blake and alternates Robitaille, Garry Galley and Sean O'Donnell. Murray then showed the team replays of all 15 goals allowed the past two games at three different angles. ``I've never lost two games that badly in all the years I've coached,'' said Murray, a longtime assistant. ``Everybody loses games. We'll work to make sure it doesn't happen again.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO JAMIE STORR - The Kings goalie was pulled after the first period in back-to-back losses on the road. |
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