Coach Figures It’s Time to Consider Dallas Jinx

The Kings chose to confront their demons Wednesday, and why not? Ignoring them sure hasn’t been working.

“I asked them a few questions about Dallas, why [it] has had success against the Kings in the past,” Coach Andy Murray said.

The Kings have not beaten Dallas since April 6, 1995, a streak of futility that has stretched over 20 games in which they are 0-14-6-1. It is the longest ongoing drought in the NHL and only one game from the Kings’ worst.

And the Stars’ best.

The Stars, then in Minnesota, were 17-0-4 against the Kings from March 31, 1970, to Dec. 11, 1973.

The Kings’ opinions about their current plight were “early leads . . . putting them on the power play early in games . . . letting them get a lot of momentum at the start of games . . . not winning one-on-one battles,” Murray said.

The Stars also have gotten goals from their stars, Brett Hull and Mike Modano; great goaltending from Ed Belfour and timely defense from Richard Matvichuk.

Murray is using comparisons as a sign of hope.

“Look at some of the things we’ve done this season,” he said. “We hadn’t won in St. Louis [since Nov. 7, 1995], and we did that . . . We hadn’t won in Montreal [since Nov. 24, 1990], and we did that . . . We’ve had quite a few firsts.”

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Murray expressed disappointment in the NHL’s refusal to sanction San Jose’s Tony Granato for his cross-check of Mattias Norstrom in Saturday’s game. Granato got a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Norstrom got 30 stitches in his face.

“I thought he was going to get maybe six or seven games,” Murray said of Granato, adding that he was “out of control” and that the matter smacked of preferential treatment by the NHL.

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Jozef Stumpel (knee) and Glen Murray (bruised chest) practiced with the rest of the team Wednesday for the first time since their injuries. The Kings are hopeful Stumpel can return to the lineup when they go on the road next week for games at Dallas, Nashville and Toronto. Murray will be out a while longer.

TONIGHT

vs. Dallas

7, Fox Sports Net, ESPN2

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 19-18-7-3, Stars 23-18-5-2.

* Record vs. Stars--0-2-1-1.

* Update--Dallas has taken five of eight possible points on its trip, even after Wednesday night’s loss at the Arrowhead Pond, but that apparently isn’t enough for Coach Ken Hitchcock, who is shuffling lines to generate more scoring. That experiment involves splitting Mike Modano and Brett Hull, perhaps as potent a 1-2 punch as there is in the NHL. Goalie Ed Belfour has a groin strain and is questionable. * Tickets--(888) 546-4752.