Tough Assignment Doesn’t Faze Miller

Defenseman Aaron Miller covered San Jose’s Teemu Selanne like a wet blanket Saturday. Don’t be surprised to see Miller doing the same thing tonight to Jeremy Roenick of the Phoenix Coyotes.

It’s Miller’s duty to shadow the opposition’s top offensive threats. It’s why the Kings acquired him (and winger Adam Deadmarsh) from the Colorado Avalanche for Rob Blake last month. Miller is the Kings’ stopper.

“He’s had an opportunity to step in here and he’s played very well for us,” Coach Andy Murray said. “He’s a very intelligent player, a very consistent player.”

Miller doesn’t have Blake’s booming slap shot and he doesn’t deliver the highlight-reel hip checks. But Miller cracked Selanne several times along the boards, helping to contain him and blank the Sharks in a 1-0 King victory.

“That pair has been very good,” Murray said, referring to his top defense pair of Miller and Mattias Norstrom.

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Practice was limited to a grand total of 23 minutes Sunday. Murray said he wanted the players to work up a good sweat rather than go through a taxing workout or have a day off. . . . Center Jozef Stumpel participated in the practice, but is believed to be about a week away from playing in his first game since breaking a rib March 4 against the Mighty Ducks.

TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix

7:30, Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KSPN (1110).

* Records--Kings 33-27-10-1, Coyotes 31-24-15-2.

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

* Update--This is the first game between the teams since a 3-3 tie Nov. 17 at Staples Center. The Coyotes won by scores of 3-1 on Oct. 28 in Phoenix and 6-5 on Oct. 15 at Staples. Winger Luc Robitaille is one point from tying Dave Taylor for second on the Kings’ all-time scoring list with 1,069 points. Robitaille is tied with Marcel Dionne with 921 games as a King, second-most in franchise history. This is the third game in three cities in four nights for the Coyotes, who are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games. Goalie Sean Burke, who leads the league with a .926 save percentage, did not play in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators. Burke is expected to be in goal tonight. Wayne Gretzky, new owner (along with Steve Ellman) of the Coyotes, is expected to attend tonight’s game.

* Tickets--(888) 546-4752.