Murray Focuses on Positives

The Kings, no strangers to mediocrity in their mostly undistinguished history, have rarely started a season this poorly.

Only four times in their first 34 seasons have they lost as many as 10 of their first 14 games, as they have this season. Only once did they recover to finish the season with as many as 70 points or make the playoffs--in 1986-87, when they wound up with a 31-41-8 record after a 3-10-1 start in Luc Robitaille’s rookie season and lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs.

Otherwise, they finished with 38 points after a 3-10-1 start in 1969-70, 49 after a 2-11-1 start in 1971-72 and 54 after a 3-11-1 start in 1985-86.

Coach Andy Murray, however, is trying to keep the Kings’ spirits up.

“I’m trying to maintain an even keel,” he said Friday. “I talked to our staff and to our trainers. I talked to our strength and conditioning guys. I said, ‘Let’s be better at what we’re doing. Let’s pay attention to detail. Let’s keep things energized.’ ...

“I don’t want anybody dragging their lips around here, coming in and feeling sorry. We’ve got some work to do and ... it’s not going to be easy....

“What you get from situations like this sometimes is osmosis. You’re feeling bad so all of a sudden you start making somebody else feel bad.... We’ve got to be serious about our work [and] intense. But it’s not doom and gloom.”

So, in meetings with his players, he does not always scold. When showing videotape, he mixes in clips of big hits and tight defensive coverage with blown assignments. He shows offensive breakouts that result in scoring chances along with those that break down and end with turnovers. Rather than harping on the Kings’ offensive deficiencies, he points out that only the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs have given up fewer shots on goal.

“You try to mix it up rather than [say], ‘This is awful, that’s awful’--just dragging them down on every single thing,” Murray said. “There’s a balance.”

The Kings’ 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night was their eighth one-goal defeat of the season, among them two in overtime.

But defenseman Mattias Norstrom, their captain, said it has not reached the point where the Kings expect bad things to happen.

“I don’t think there’s one guy on the bench saying, ‘Oh, no, here we go again,”’ he said. “I think we’re very optimistic because soon it’s going to turn for us and we’ll be on the other side of this, winning these one-goal games. Being in these one-goal games and being in these situations can only help us.”

TODAY

vs. Atlanta, 1, Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 3-8-1-2, Thrashers 3-5-1-2.

Record vs. Thrashers--(2000-01) 1-0-0-1.

Update--The Thrashers are the only team in the Southeast Division that has not defeated the Kings this season. On the other hand, they are the only team in the division that has not yet played them. The Thrashers’ top scorers are rookies Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk, who have combined for 17 points.

Tickets--(888) 546-4752.