Trying to Keep It Under Control

The next time the Kings have a lead in the third period, things will be different. Not necessarily the result, just the way they deal with being ahead.

“We gave up two goals in the third period [at Washington last Saturday night], and we’ve got to work on that,” center Bryan Smolinski said. “I guess we’ve been in a rush that, if you get up two [goals], keep getting it in, keep getting it in, keep getting it in. But [instead] you want to control that puck, and that’s a team thing.”

That’s a departure from the way the Kings handled things at Florida, where they lost, 4-2, after leading, 2-1, at the start of the third period; and at Washington, where they led, 2-0, at the start of the third period of a game that ended in a 2-2 tie.

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With a 3-1-1 road mark in mind, and with two more games on the road this weekend before the Kings finally play at home, Coach Andy Murray cautioned against overconfidence.

“As soon as you start thinking you’re too good, there’s somebody there to knock you off,” he said. “That shouldn’t happen. We haven’t done anything yet.”

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Left wing Steve McKenna, expected to be on the trip after undergoing laser eye surgery a week ago to repair a partially torn retina, instead stayed in Los Angeles, where he will work out while the Kings are in Calgary and Edmonton.

TONIGHT

at Calgary, 6 PDT

Fox Sports West

* Site--Canadian Airlines Saddledome.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 3-1-1, Flames 1-3-1.

* Record vs. Flames (1998-99)--1-2-1.

* Update--The Flames beat Vancouver in overtime Wednesday, 4-3, with center Marc Savard going from Coach Brian Sutter’s doghouse to the penthouse in one game. Savard, who played behind Wayne Gretzky and Petr Nedved on the New York Rangers’ third line last season, went to Calgary in a draft-day trade with the idea that he could be the first-line center. He reported to camp out of shape and by the fourth game was a healthy scratch with a work-ethic deficiency. On Wednesday, he was back in uniform on the fourth line, had an assist on a goal by Andrei Nazarov, and by the third period had replaced Clarke Wilm on the first line. Savard then set up Valeri Bure’s goal that beat the Canucks in overtime. King rookie defenseman Fran Kaberle, who injured a wrist in Tuesday’s workout, is expected to be in the lineup.