Injured Hrudey Will Play Little Before Kings’ Season

King goaltender Kelly Hrudey, who sprained his left ankle the week before training camp, still feels some discomfort and will get only limited playing time in exhibition games.

Coach Larry Robinson said Hrudey won’t play Tuesday against the Boston Bruins and Thursday against the New York Rangers at the Forum. Robinson said Hrudey “won’t get in too many games, maybe just the last one to give him some game action. . . . His ankle has been tender and we want to make sure he’s right.”

Robinson, who projects Hrudey to start 50 games this season, is taking an extended look at the competitors for the backup job. He said Jamie Storr--who played five games for the Kings last season after being drafted from the Ontario Hockey League--will play the first two periods against the Bruins and Byron Dafoe will play the final 20 minutes.

Dafoe, acquired from the Washington Capitals with Dimitri Khristich in July, is scheduled to play the first two periods against the Rangers. Frederick Beaubien, a 1993 fifth-round draft pick from St-Hyacinthe of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, will play the final period.

“The number two job is very open,” Robinson said Sunday. “We’re looking at a guy like Jamie who has not had a lot of experience, so we’d much rather see him play games, wherever. The same with Frederick. That’s the luxury we have, that Byron played a lot of games last year [four with the Capitals and 55 in the minors]. There’s nothing that would please me more than if somebody would jump out and really earn the spot.”

Robinson also said he may rest Rick Tocchet and Tony Granato occasionally, such as in the second game of back-to-back sequences, to reduce their risk of aggravating old back problems. Neither has had a problem in camp.

Tocchet, sidelined for 12 of the final 15 games last season, said he feels good enough to play every game but would be “a very happy man” if he is able to play 75 games.