Coach Not Ready to Put His Players’ Backs to Wall

A victory Monday over the Phoenix Coyotes vaulted the Kings into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. But a loss would not have been the end of the world, according to Coach Andy Murray.

There are still 10 games remaining, plenty of time to rally for a playoff spot. Murray didn’t want anyone in a King uniform thinking that Monday’s game was an all-or-nothing deal.

“Our philosophy the last three weeks was that we had to do more to have an opportunity to stay in the hunt,” Murray said after the morning skate.

“By the same token, we’re still in it after tonight’s game. We have three games against sub-.500 teams. The rest of them are well over it. We’d like to go after this one [Monday]. You’d love to have this game [Monday].”

Murray got his wish.

However, the Kings still face critical games Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers, Saturday against the Mighty Ducks and Monday against the San Jose Sharks.

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Center Jozef Stumpel continues his slow recovery from a broken rib. He participated in his first full-contact workout since he was injured March 4 against the Ducks.

Stumpel, the Kings’ fourth-leading scorer with 46 points going into Monday’s game, is expected to be sidelined for roughly one more week.