Storr Sees Hit as Part of Game

King goaltender Jamie Storr suffered post-concussion syndrome after Monday’s collision with St. Louis’ Geoff Courtnall and could not play in Game 4 on Wednesday.

Stephane Fiset, who gave up eight goals in Game 1, returned to the starting lineup. Storr’s status was called day to day by team doctor Michael Mellman.

“I wasn’t sure what I had at the time,” Storr said. “My head was sore, but I had no memory loss and I wasn’t woozy until the next day. At the time, I had so much adrenaline from the crowd and the way we were playing that I felt as though I could do the job.”

With defenseman Sean O’Donnell serving a five-minute fighting major for pummeling Courtnall, Storr gave up four power-play goals in a span of 3:07 as St. Louis rallied to win, 4-3.

“I’m not angry [at Courtnall],” said Storr, who blanked the Blues until Pascal Rheaume’s goal at 9:59 of the third period. “It’s part of the game and I realize that. If we went down and knocked out [St. Louis goalie Grant] Fuhr and scored four goals, I wouldn’t be complaining.

“I’m just disappointed I couldn’t be out there cheering for the guys. I’ll just be doing it from the stands instead.”

Of the collision, Storr said: “I saw [Courtnall] at the last minute. I was trying to not get killed. It’s unfortunate, but you can’t take back what happened.”

Storr practiced without complaint Tuesday, but told the Kings’ medical staff he felt “a kind of fogginess” after participating in Wednesday morning’s workout.

“He was examined [Wednesday] because his complaints were suspicious of a problem,” Mellman said. “He wasn’t impaired at the time, which would be the reason he wasn’t examined immediately [after Monday’s game].”

Storr was 0-2 with a 3.72 goals-against average in two starts in the series. The Kings activated minor-leaguer Frederic Chabot to serve as Fiset’s backup.

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Count King defenseman Rob Blake among the many admirers of St. Louis defenseman Chris Pronger. Apparently, it takes a Norris Trophy candidate to know one.

“He’s going to get better and better,” said Blake, who joins Pronger and Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom as the favorites to win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman. “This is his breakthrough year. He plays 30 minutes [per game]. You just don’t get them better than him. I think his seasons are going to get better as he goes along.”

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The always talkative Brett Hull stunned a couple of reporters with his silence when asked why teammate Jim Campbell couldn’t make the cut with the Mighty Ducks when he clearly has bolstered the Blues’ depth.

“No, no,” Hull protested. “I have a few ideas about that, but I’d rather not say.”

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St. Louis Coach Joel Quenneville, on energetic King center Ian Laperriere: “Lappy is an annoying guy, but he’s effective.”

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NHL Senior Vice President Brian Burke is still reviewing the evidence, but indications are King Coach Larry Robinson will be hit with a hefty fine for his harsh criticism of referee Don Koharski on Monday. Since this is Robinson’s second offense this season--he was fined $5,000 last month for an outburst directed toward Bill McCreary that he followed with an obscene gesture--the punishment will be at least $5,000 and might hit $10,000, the maximum assessment permitted against coaches.

O’Donnell also is expected to be fined, for his game misconduct, but the maximum levy against players is $1,000.

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Quenneville knows King goaltender Stephane Fiset very well because Quenneville was an assistant coach with Quebec (before its move to Colorado) when Fiset played for the Nordiques and the Avalanche.

Quenneville said Fiset “can be very dangerous” and complimented him for maintaining a positive outlook after the Avalanche acquired Patrick Roy and shunted Fiset into a backup role.

“He had a great attitude the year we went to the Cup,” Quenneville said, referring to Colorado’s 1996 triumph. “He was great with Patrick. He accepted the role and was respectful and very helpful.”