Injured Deadmarsh May Sit; Ronning Out

The Kings will be short-handed tonight when they try to keep from being eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in Game 5 of their series.

Cliff Ronning, who missed Tuesday’s game, is out with what Coach Andy Murray said were “concussion-like symptoms.” The Kings may also be without right wing Adam Deadmarsh, who crashed into the boards at the start of the third period Tuesday. Deadmarsh underwent an MRI Wednesday, which showed no damage, but he does have a strained neck.

“We’re trying to get him loosened up,” Murray said. “There is no structural damage, it’s a strain. I think if there is any way for Adam to play, he’ll be in there.”

If Deadmarsh cannot play, Murray will fill out his top line with either Steve Heinze, Mikko Eloranta or Craig Johnson. All three skated with Jason Allison and Ziggy Palffy in the third period Tuesday.

“The thing you saw are all three options,” Murray said.

Ronning has not felt well since the first game of the series, when Rob Blake leveled him. He was ready to play Tuesday, but Murray sent him to be tested.

“He said he felt lethargic and not real sharp,” Murray said. “We have had enough players that have had concussions to know how they’re feeling.”

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Heinze came close to ending his 27 game goal-less streak when he nearly tied the score with eight seconds left Tuesday. He picked up a loose puck at the side of the net and, with Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy out of position, flipped a shot that hit the outside of the post.

“I just would have loved to see him get some reward,” Murray said. “I thought he worked and competed, for whatever reason, somebody has decided he shouldn’t score until [tonight].”

Heinze hasn’t scored a goal since Jan. 15 against Nashville.

Beating Roy was on the Kings’ mind after the veteran goalie picked up his 20th career playoff shutout in Tuesday’s 1-0 Avalanche victory.

“Anything Patrick sees, he’s going to stop,” defenseman Mathieu Schneider said. “We have to get some tips and deflections and rebounds. They are going to be ugly goals. We scored a few pretty ones this series, we’ve been fortunate. This time of year, the way we have to play, they are going to be ugly.”

Said Eric Belanger: “We have to keep shooting. There’s no secret there. If we can get a couple behind Patrick we are going to be able to get at him.”

The Kings, though, won’t be looking to play a more wide-open style that produced 15 goals in the first two games of the series.

“I don’t think either team wants to play like that, it’s too risky,” Murray said. “You go in with the mind-set that you’re going to get five goals on Patrick Roy, you’re going to have to give something up to do that.”

Neatly printed on the board in the King dressing room were the words “Win Thursday and we will be playing Game 7 Monday.”

Murray used much of the same motivation last season, when the Kings went to Denver trailing the Avalanche, 3-1, in a second-round series. The Kings won the next two games, then lost Game 7.

“We’re facing the same situation,” Mattias Norstrom said. “It’s the same attitude. It’s a big task to beat the Avalanche, but every singe guy in this room is confident we can do that.”

As is their coach.

“We’re down 3-1 and we could be waiting for the next team [in the second round] right now,” Murray said. “It’s hard to believe, but that’s the way we feel. Obviously, Colorado has every right to say the same thing. This could be over and it wouldn’t be necessary for them to play Game 5. That’s how even the games have been.”