Now They Try to End 21 Games of Futility

The Kings tried ignoring their history against the Stars.

But that game turned out like so many of the others.

Then they spent some time concentrating on why they couldn’t beat Dallas, but went out and didn’t, again.

The three losses this season have taken the Kings’ string of futility against the Stars to 21 games, 0-15-6-1, and that has tied a record for both teams. The first time the two teams had such 21-game streaks was against each other in the early 1970s, when the Stars called Minnesota home.

Their most recent game against Dallas was the Kings’ worst in a while, a 5-2 loss last Thursday at Staples Center in which they folded down the stretch. “I looked at the video again today, and we had some chances,” Coach Andy Murray said. “We had some chances when it was 3-2.”

But when the Stars’ Mike Modano scored in the third period to make it 4-2, it was over. Again.

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Murray was undecided about whom to start in goal, and that’s a bit of a novelty. Stephane Fiset and Jamie Storr are completely sound for the first time since early November.

“We’re going to have to look at the schedule,” Murray said. “We’ve got four games in six nights coming up, and we just got both of them healthy. We’ve got confidence in both.”

Fiset missed four weeks because of a hand injury and Storr about four weeks because of a concussion.

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The Kings sent winger Bill Huard to Atlanta for future considerations.

TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5:30 PST

* Site--Reunion Arena.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 20-19-7-3, Stars 25-18-5-2.

* Record vs. Stars--0-3-0-1.

* Update--The Stars are banged up and tired of taking physical abuse with defenseman Derian Hatcher sidelined, so they sent speedy Juha Lind to Montreal for banger Scott Thornton on Saturday.