New Father Has Return Ticket to Denver

King center Jozef Stumpel left Denver on Wednesday morning when his wife, Martina, went into labor. He made it to Los Angeles for the birth of Kali, the couple’s first child.

Coach Andy Murray hoped Stumpel would return to Colorado in time for the start of tonight’s game. “Mr. Anschutz has made his plane available and will do anything to get him back in time,” Murray said, referring to owner Philip Anschutz. “I told Jozef to wish Martina all the best and to speed it up.”

Stumpel was the Kings’ leading scorer with seven points (three goals, four assists) in their opening-round upset of the Detroit Red Wings.

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The NHL assigned Denis Morel and Mike Murphy as the series supervisors. Morel spoke briefly with Murray to review the ground rules that had been discussed earlier in the day on a conference call with NHL Vice President Colin Campbell and the coaches and general managers of the remaining playoff teams. Murray said Campbell has told officials to continue to monitor goaltender interference, after having called 18 such penalties in first-round games. . . . Tickets for Games 3 and 4--and a potential Game 6--sold out soon after they went on sale Wednesday.