Morgan Plays Like a Veteran

Rookie Jason Morgan had to wonder if he was being rewarded or punished when he was recalled Friday from Springfield of the American Hockey League. With Nathan LaFayette sidelined because of a mild concussion, Morgan was assigned the difficult task Saturday of playing checking center against the Detroit Red Wings’ top lines.

“I was a little nervous this morning. I couldn’t really eat too much,” said Morgan, who played three games with the Kings late last season but had spent this season in the AHL.

Morgan obviously didn’t let his nerves get the best of him, playing well enough to earn praise from Coach Larry Robinson in the Kings’ 2-1 victory.

“I thought that he did a great job,” Robinson said of Morgan, who battled Detroit’s Sergei Fedorov for most of the game. “He’s a good skater.”

Said Rob Blake: “Maybe Morgan should go ask Dave [Taylor, the Kings’ general manager] for $38 million [the amount Fedorov recently signed for].”

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Blake’s play against the Red Wings enhanced his chances for winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman.

“The last month and a half or so, when the thought of him getting hurt was out of his mind, he began to react and his physical presence began to be felt,” Robinson said. “He is a legitimate contender for the Norris Trophy.”

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Goaltender Stephane Fiset recorded his first assist as a King when he cleared the puck to Blake, who scored from the red line 16:33 into the first period. . . . The Kings are 22-2-2 when they score first. . . .Defenseman Doug Zmolek suffered a right shoulder sprain.