Mistakes on Defense Remain Concern to Murray

What did a dramatic, come-from-behind victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night mean for the Kings?

Certainly, getting their first victory was a morale boost.

“If we hadn’t won, it would have been not real pleasant around here this morning,� Coach Andy Murray said Friday at the team’s training facility in El Segundo.

But the Kings’ poor defense in a 6-5 victory also means there is much work to be done, Murray said.

St. Louis exploited mistakes to take a 2-0 lead five minutes into the game, including scoring a breakaway goal, and the Blues led, 3-1, after the first period.

“It certainly wasn’t our best game, and that’s what we analyzed [Friday] morning,� Murray said. “We took a look at [St. Louis’] scoring chances and some of the things we did wrong. For the most part, with the exception of the first period against Minnesota, we’ve played real stingy. We pride ourselves on being pretty good defensively, and [Thursday] we just weren’t good enough in that area.�Murray said he considered pulling Felix Potvin but decided to stay with the struggling goaltender, who has yet to display the high level of play he exhibited late last season.

Murray said Potvin will start tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning but backup Jamie Storr might get some playing time next week.

Ruling out any immediate changes, Murray said, “There’s no real secrets. Every team makes the same kind of mistakes and every team capitalizes. You just want to make fewer of them than what we did [Thursday].�

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Murray said he was encouraged by the play of winger Adam Deadmarsh, who missed the exhibition season because of a groin injury and was slow to find a rhythm in his first two games.

Deadmarsh scored the first of the Kings’ four goals in the third period, when they erased deficits of 4-2 and 5-4 before winning on Steve Heinze’s backhand goal with 37 seconds left.

“I’m hoping that the third period [Thursday] is a sign of how Adam if going to play the rest of the year,� Murray said. “It’s tough not playing in any preseason games, missing most of the practices and then coming out and having to play at this kind of intensity right away.�

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Winger Nelson Emerson remains out of action indefinitely because of the lingering effects of a concussion suffered in an exhibition game Sept. 29 against the Colorado Avalanche.

Emerson, who participated in a light workout Friday, is being brought along slowly by the medical staff. Fortunately for the team, Heinze, who took Emerson’s spot on a line with center Bryan Smolinski and winger Glen Murray, has stepped up.

Heinze leads the team in scoring with three goals and three assists.

TONIGHT

vs. Tampa Bay, 7:30

Site--Staples Center.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings (1-2-1-0), Lightning (0-3-0-0).

Record vs. Lightning (2000-2001)--0-1.

Update--The Lightning are tied with Pittsburgh for the worst record in the league. King defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, scratched the last two games in favor of Jere Karalahti, might return to the lineup tonight, Andy Murray said.

Tickets--(888) 546-4752.