Murray Gives Them a Break

And Sunday was a day of rest.

“We need it,” said Coach Andy Murray, who had planned individual meetings with the Kings in Pittsburgh, then thought better of it because, frankly “they can use a day off from me.”

The Kings have been on a play-practice-play-practice schedule since last having two days in a row off two weeks ago. Amid that has been travel to Chicago and Pittsburgh.

Murray’s modus operandi was to hold individual reviews after the season’s first nine games, but the schedule didn’t permit it, so they will be held today around practice time.

In those reviews, players will be told their “efficiency ratings”--a compilation of positive and negative statistics--given feedback on their play and asked to offer feedback on the coaching.

Not that meetings are unusual for the Kings. Under their new coach, they meet more than a congressional caucus at budget time.

That included a Saturday session in Chicago, intended as a “bring-down” meeting. The Kings were in first place in the Western Conference, having won three games in a row at the time.

“Our deal is to get in the playoffs,” Murray said. “Obviously, if you’re in first place in your conference, you’re going to get in the playoffs, but it’s early. Let’s get some perspective.”

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Fourth-line winger Dan Bylsma, whose collaboration with his father Jay on the book “So Your Son Wants to Play in the NHL” enjoyed moderate success, has completed a sequel.

It’s “So You Want to Play in the NHL.”

“It’s geared to ages 16 and below,” said Bylsma. “We have a Web site, and we have chapters answering about 25 questions we got from it and from other people we talked to.”

Lest there be a misperception, there are no chapters entitled “The Slapshot for Fun and Profit” or “Passing to the Slot: the Untold Story.” No, they deal with topics such as, “Do I Have to Play on a Line With HIM?” and “Why Can’t I Have a New Pair of Skates?” The Bylsmas are seeking a publisher.

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Jamie Storr will start in goal Tuesday night at Pittsburgh. Goalie Stephane Fiset beat the Penguins last Thursday at Staples Center, 5-3. Fiset will start Wednesday at Detroit.