KINGS NOTEBOOK: MURRAY: 100 LIKE `OTHER 99'.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - There was no party to celebrate Andy Murray's 100th victory as coach of the Kings. He simply drove back to the hotel he calls home during the season after Thursday's 4-1 win over Minnesota, opened a bag of cookies and watched a videotape of the game.

``Probably a lot like the other 99,'' Murray said Friday after practice.

If Murray seemed even more humble than usual, it was because when he awoke at 6 Friday morning, he turned on his radio and learned that Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock had been fired. Hitchcock had won a Stanley Cup with the Stars and five consecutive Pacific Division titles.

``It's amazing when you think about the Stanley Cup,'' said Murray, who is 100-82-32 in three seasons. ``But this is a job where you go into survival mode from day one. I once had a coaching friend who told me he had a three-year plan. I told him you better have a three-game plan.''

Murray said he takes nothing for granted even though his Kings are 15-4-3 in their past 22 games heading into this afternoon's game with defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado.

Those are better numbers than the end of last season, when the Kings were 10 points from the final playoff spot before going 13-4-5 the rest of the way.

Murray has drawn comparisons to Hitchcock in the past. Both were not former NHL players. Both are intense and demanding. The Kings and Stars are just a point apart in the Western Conference standings. But only Murray has a job today.

Earlier this season, when the Kings were struggling, Kings general manager Dave Taylor had to call Murray to halt rumors that his coach was in trouble. Murray not only survived, he flourished.

``I think we were bound to get better,'' defenseman Mathieu Schneider said. ``We had some players injured and that hurt. Andy has done a very good job getting this team prepared. He does an excellent job with videotape and scouting opponents. He also has a staff that has done a terrific job.''

Murray has given assistants Dave Tippett and Mark Hardy a lot of room to work with the power-play and penalty-killing units. Earlier this month, the Kings' power play ranked as the best in the NHL. The penalty-killing unit is tops the league.

``When I look at 100 victories, I see it as a group effort,'' Murray said. ''The work of Tip and Mark and (assistant) Ray Bennett is the reason we have gotten into this position.''

--Quick whistles: Bryan Smolinski missed his second consecutive day with intestinal flu but hopes to play today. ... This is the first meeting between the Kings and Avs since the final game of the exhibition season. In that game, Colorado's Pascal Trapanier whacked Nelson Emerson and gave him a concussion that forced him to miss 22 of the first 27 games. ... Craig Johnson (right corneal abrasion) will miss today's game but hopes to practice Sunday and play Monday in Colorado.

KINGS vs. COLORADO

Faceoff: 1 p.m., at Staples Center.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 1110-AM.

Matchup: This is the first meeting between the clubs outside of exhibition games since last year's riveting second-round playoff series won by the Avs. Colorado, which went on to win the Stanley Cup, is on a roll, winning five consecutive games, including back-to-back victories in Edmonton and Calgary. Patrick Roy is having one of his best seasons in net, with seven shutouts. Captain Joe Sakic, last year's NHL MVP, doesn't have a goal in 17 games but had two assists Thursday against the Flames. Former King Rob Blake is having another strong season with 11 goals and 36 points in 48 games and is a favorite to win the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman.

- Matt McHale

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KINGS vs. COLORADO (see text)