Johnson Not Intimidated by Probert

Although they lost for the first time in four games, the day wasn’t a total disaster for the Kings. One of the bright spots was enforcer Matt Johnson’s willingness in the second period to take on Blackhawk left wing Bob Probert, who was once considered the league’s best fighter.

Johnson did this despite suffering from a sore and very swollen right hand, which he hurt when he hit the helmet of the Flyers’ Daniel Lacroix in a scrap last week.

“It’s a good test,� said Johnson, who fought to a draw. “I still respect him. He threw an elbow at me, and I wasn’t going to back down. But I was a little hesitant to throw my right. It wasn’t my best.�

So, how does it feel to get hit by Probert?

“It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,� Johnson said.

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The healthy scratches were defensemen Aki Berg and John Slaney and forward Craig Johnson. Berg tonight will likely take the place of Steven Finn, who played in his first game of the season. Coach Larry Robinson doesn’t want Finn to overdo it early on. . . . On the farm: Goaltender Jamie Storr had a particularly rough outing here on Friday night, playing for the Kings’ minor-league affiliate, Phoenix. The Roadrunners lost, 8-2, to the Chicago Wolves of the International Hockey League.