Taylor Gives Murray Vote of Confidence

King Coach Andy Murray awoke Wednesday morning after a fitful night’s sleep to see a report on CTV SportsNet, a Canadian all-sports television network, speculating that his job was in jeopardy.

Given the state of the Kings, last in the Pacific Division and tied for the second fewest points in the NHL, it would seem a logical assumption.

But it’s not true, General Manager Dave Taylor said from Los Angeles.

“I’m very happy with our coaching staff,” said Taylor, who signed Murray to a two-year contract extension, through the 2003-04 season, after the Kings had fallen one victory short of reaching the Western Conference finals last spring. “I think they’ve done an outstanding job with our team and I’m seeing some positive signs out of our club.

“We’re six games below .500, but we’re only seven points out of a playoff spot and I think we’re playing hard. I think it’s only a matter of time before we get it turned around. There are probably a number of factors that have led us to the position that we’re in, but those things are behind us and what we have to focus on is winning games.”

The Kings, who play the Edmonton Oilers tonight in the final game of a four-game trip, overcame two-goal deficits in their last two games to gain ties against the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames. It’s the first time they’ve gone consecutive games without losing since May, when they defeated the Colorado Avalanche in Games 5 and 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.

They are 2-7-2-1 since last month’s trade for Jason Allison, a deal that Murray has said limited his options by robbing the club of quality depth and squashing the momentum of last season’s unexpected playoff run.

“It’s always open to debate when you make a trade,” Taylor said. “We felt it was important to add a top, No. 1 center to our club. We were trading two top-six forwards [Jozef Stumpel and Glen Murray] for one and we knew that would leave us a bit thin, but we felt it was important for our organization to make that trade.”

Injuries to Ziggy Palffy, Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller and Mathieu Schneider made the Kings thinner, Taylor said, and might have contributed to the club’s struggles. Which, in turn, led to speculation about Murray’s job status.

“I just accept it as being part of the business,” the coach said. “It’s just more of a challenge to get it turned around, just like it was when I first came to L.A. At that time it was probably even harsher because I hadn’t won a game yet in the NHL.

“At least now I have a little bit to back me up. I have a few more wins under my belt, so if anything, there’s a little bit more credibility to what I’m trying to do.”

*

Jamie Storr, who relieved starter Felix Potvin in two of the Kings’ last four games, will start in goal tonight after earning a tie by stopping 16 of 17 shots in relief Tuesday night.

Murray indicated that his starter will be determined game by game. Deadmarsh, sidelined because of an abdominal strain, will sit out again and is “very questionable” for Saturday’s game against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center, Murray said.... Kelly Buchberger will play in his 200th consecutive game tonight.

TONIGHT

at Edmonton, 6 PST, ESPN2

Site--Skyreach Centre.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 5-11-3-2, Oilers 14-5-3-1.

Record vs. Oilers--(2000-01) 1-3.

Update--The Kings, winless in their last seven road games, have lost three in a row to the Oilers, the last two shutouts by Tommy Salo, 5-0 and 7-0. The Oilers, who lead the Northwest Division, are unbeaten in their last six games.