Storr, Kings Tie the Stars, 3-3

One good thing about the Kings being eliminated from the playoff race is that it gives them a chance to see players who they hope will be a key in the team’s rebuilding process.

Goaltender Jamie Storr is one such player and Saturday night, he started his second consecutive game after playing most of the season with the Phoenix Roadrunners, the Kings’ minor league affiliate.

Storr played better in his second game but it still was not good enough to lead the Kings to a victory as they tied the Dallas Stars, 3-3, before an announced 11,509 at the Forum.

Storr, who also lost 5-4 to the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, made 37 saves, including several during a key two-man advantage for the Stars in the third period.

“I felt a little nervous the first game, and I lost concentration at times,” Storr said. “But I finished that game strong and tonight, I carried it throughout the game.”

Dallas, which closed within two points of Colorado for the best record in the league with 101, was led by Mike Modano, who scored two goals, and Dave Reid, who added another. Star goalie Andy Moog started his first game since March 7 because of back and ankle injuries and still needs a victory to move him into a tie for fifth place with former King Rogie Vachon.

“I think the team played well tonight against a team that is in first place,” Storr said. “We had a better effort all around.”

After being the Kings’ No. 1 draft choice in 1994, Storr has had three major stints in the NHL. As a rookie, he had a 1-3-1 record and last season he was 3-1. So far this season, he is 0-1-1.

Storr’s strength is his size. At 6-foot-1, he is able to block a large area of the net. But one problem he has had over the last two games has been a tendency to flop to the ice.

This cost him on the Stars’ third goal when he was not able to recover in time to stop Modano’s second goal with 12 seconds remaining in the second period.

“I was pleased with how [Storr] played,” King Coach Larry Robinson said. “Only [Dallas’] third goal can I fault him on. On that [goal] there were a number of mistakes.”

Another player who has made the most of his added time on the ice has been defenseman Aki Berg, the team’s 1995 No. 1 pick.

Berg, who did not score a goal in his first 89 games, scored in his second consecutive with a goal late in the first period. Berg, who did not do much to impress the Kings last season, has played well in displaying some much needed toughness to the back line.

“I have not changed anything, [the goals] are just happening,” Berg said. “I was having lots of chances . . . I just hope to score again next game.”