Murray Faces Tough Choice

It’s a dilemma Coach Andy Murray wished he didn’t have.

“You wonder how hard you can skate the guys in practice,� said Murray, who had nine injured regulars not in the lineup Monday against Chicago. “We’ve consistently have had five guys out of the lineup and four or five others that are hurting, so you don’t want to work them in practice.... It’s a real catch-22 this year.�

Although the NHL was forced into a condensed schedule last season because of an Olympic break, Murray said he feels the Kings’ schedule for the first three months of this season has been tougher.

“We think that we work hard most days and some days you want to do a little bit extra,� Murray said. “But I am not a big believer in punishment skates when you put the puck away and skate for 45 minutes and bag your team for the next week.

“You’re trying to make a point, but I think those bag skates come back to haunt you.�

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Defenseman Lubomir Vishnovsky, who sat out Sunday’s loss at Colorado because of flu-like symptoms, returned to the lineup Monday. But the Kings still played without Bryan Smolinski (eye), Alexander Frolov (cheek), Jason Allison (knee), Adam Deadmarsh (dizziness), Eric Belanger (back), Erik Rasmussen (back), Aaron Miller (foot), Steve Heinze (post-concussion) and Ken Belanger (post-concussion).

-- Lonnie White