Hot Storr Will Get Next Start

In keeping with the age-old hockey axiom that says you ride a hot goaltender until he cools, King Coach Andy Murray is sticking with Jamie Storr.

After earning the decision in each game during the Kings’ four-game unbeaten streak, Storr will make his third consecutive start and fourth in five games Thursday night when the Kings play the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center.

“It’s all about trying to win and trying to go with the guy that is playing the best at that particular time,” Murray said Tuesday. “It also gives the other guy a little bit of time to sort things out and get things back the way he wants them.

“People always talk about, ‘Well, it’s because this guy’s hot.’ But it’s also giving the other guy time to get his game where he wants to have it.”

The other guy, in this case, is Felix Potvin, a starter in each of the Kings’ last 23 games last season and 18 of their first 19 this season.

He is 5-11-1 with a 2.91 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage this season after going 13-5-5 with a 1.96 GAA and .919 save percentage for the Kings last season.

Still, Murray has made it clear: Potvin remains his No. 1 goaltender.

Storr, after all, was on the trading block until Stephane Fiset suffered a knee injury Oct. 20 while playing for the Kings’ American Hockey League team at Manchester, N.H.

Until then, General Manager Dave Taylor had been trying to trade Storr or Fiset but could find no team willing.

He might now. Storr has filled in admirably for Potvin, posting a 1.64 goals-against average and .920 save percentage over the last four games.

But it seems he is only keeping the net warm.

“We still expect Felix to get back in there shortly,” Murray said. “We’ve also got some games coming up in rapid succession, where we’re going to need both guys, so we want to keep both guys sharp.

“I guess the one side of it you could talk about right now is that Jamie has to be pretty fresh. He hasn’t had to play too much up to this point, so he should be fresh and energized. And now Felix is getting a bit of a chance to get re-energized.”

In the meantime, perhaps, Storr has opened some eyes.