Potvin Expected to Start

Questions, questions, questions. The Kings have so many of them.

It may be only November but the Kings’ season is at a crucial point. They’ve won only twice in their last nine games. They’ve suffered 10 one-goal defeats.

And to make their situation worse, they will open a four-game trip tonight at Detroit with a possible goaltending problem.

“Mental mistakes are killing us,” forward Ian Laperriere said. “It’s not like we’re not working hard. We’re just not working smart. That’s something we can’t do.”

In the Kings’ 4-3 loss Thursday to Dallas, which dropped the Kings to 5-10-1-2, starting goaltender Felix Potvin was pulled after two periods for backup Jamie Storr.

Coach Andy Murray said the move was made mainly to give the team a spark and not necessarily because of Potvin, who had given up a soft goal early and consecutive scores during a two-minute four-on-four situation.

“We had hit a flat spell and we took the opportunity to try and give the team a boost [by replacing Potvin],” Murray said. “The plan is for [Potvin] to start [tonight].”

TONIGHT

at Detroit, 4:30, Fox Sports Net 2

Site--Joe Louis Arena.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 5-10-1-2, Detroit 16-3-0-1.

Record vs. Detroit--1-1-0-0.

Update--This will be the teams’ third meeting within a month. The Kings beat the Red Wings in overtime last Saturday, 3-2. Detroit leads the league in points after Friday’s 8-3 victory against Minnesota.