Koharski Gave Blow-by-Blow to NHL Official

Referee Don Koharski, who gave St. Louis the key five-minute power play with Sean O’Donnell’s fighting major in the third period Monday night, did not meet with reporters after the Blues’ 4-3 victory, but he did give his version to Sam Sisco, an NHL supervisor of officials.

“[Koharski] had the boarding penalty on [Ian] Laperriere, the puck proceeded down the ice,” Sisco said. “He saw [Geoff] Courtnall skate down the lane. He saw Jamie Storr come out of his crease just a little and stick out his stick. Courtnall bumped the goaltender and the goaltender went down. O’Donnell jumped Courtnall and proceeded to throw punches. And therefore, he got the major and a game misconduct. Courtnall was given the [charging] penalty.

When asked if Koharski’s reasoning was that Storr was out of the crease and then considered fair game, Sisco said: “No he was not fair game and that’s why Courtnall received the two minutes for charging.”

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St. Louis goaltender Grant Fuhr can relate to what Storr went through in giving up four goals and seeing a potential shutout turn into a loss. Fuhr was in goal for Edmonton on April 10, 1982, when the Kings rallied from a 5-0 third-period deficit to defeat the Oilers, 6-5, in overtime in the game that has become known as the “Miracle on Manchester.”

“As well as Jamie played, he deserves a better fate,” said Fuhr, who was a teammate with Storr on the Kings in 1994-95. “But, he’ll be all right. . . . I lost my first playoff game, 10-8. Eventually, it falls by the wayside and you keep playing.”

Fuhr, however, is a part of King lore because he was on the wrong side of the ice for the franchise’s greatest comeback win.

“Well, it’s still hanging on, so it must have taken on a life of its own,” Fuhr said of the game 16 years ago. “It’s one of those things that never dies.”

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King Coach Larry Robinson said he will decide at today’s morning skate whether to give Storr his third consecutive start or put Stephane Fiset back in the lineup.

Storr said Tuesday that he still felt some discomfort from banging his head on the crossbar after colliding with Courtnall in Monday’s game. Robinson said that if he determines that Storr is not fit to play, Fiset will start. Fiset started the Kings’ 8-3 loss in Game 1 at St. Louis.

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Right wing Sandy Moger’s season may be over unless the Kings reach the second round. Moger suffered a sprained left knee March 26 and sat out the final 12 games of the regular season along with the first three games of the playoffs.