Storr Sees Room for Optimism

Jamie Storr, in his first start since Feb. 18, gave up three goals in an eight-minute stretch of the second period in Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning but was encouraged by his play after the long layoff.

Ultimately, though, “No matter how good or how poorly you do, the outcome of the game is what’s most important,” said the backup goaltender, who stopped 15 shots. “And obviously I was as big a part of the outcome as anyone.”

Coach Andy Murray said Storr was not to blame.

“I thought Jamie was fine,” Murray said. “He certainly gave us adequate goaltending. We didn’t lose because of our goaltending. We made some mistakes on coverage and gave up a shorthanded goal, which shouldn’t happen.”

Still, Storr considered it a chance squandered. “I don’t have a lot of opportunities right now because of how good Felix Potvin is, so I’ve got to make the most of each one,” he said. “I can’t let one slip away.”

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Mikko Eloranta had been home for only a few hours Wednesday after completing a two-week trip with the Boston Bruins when he got the word: He had been traded along with Jason Allison to the Kings.

The left wing jumped on a flight to Tampa, Fla., to join the Kings for the last four games of a six-game trip, making his King debut Thursday.

“I was surprised,” said Eloranta, who was back in the lineup for Friday night’s game against the Florida Panthers. “My family was surprised too. My daughter is 4, and she didn’t understand it at all. I promised her that I was going to be home for a week and now I’m gone again. But there’s nothing I can do about it.”

What does the Finn know about L.A.?

“It’s on the West Coast.”

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Center Bryan Smolinski was a late scratch after suffering a pulled muscle in his back above his left hip during pregame warm-ups.

“I turned the wrong way and kind of tweaked it,” Smolinski said.

He was treated and thought he would be able to play but changed his mind after going back out on the ice minutes before the game.

“I took two or three strides and it was no good,” he said.