Writer’s Cramp Is a Concern for Murray

Before every game, Coach Andy Murray writes down on a board the numbers of the players he expects to see in both teams’ lineups, with the injured Kings listed in the left corner.

After Alexander Frolov (cut cheek), Eric Belanger (back) and Bryan Smolinski (eye) were added to the list, Murray agreed that he’ll soon need a longer board if the Kings continue to lose players to injury.

“Isn’t that incredible?” Murray said after practice Saturday morning. “You can put a pretty good team together with those guys on the left side.”

But for every injured Jason Allison (knee), Adam Deadmarsh (concussion), Aaron Miller (abdominal), Steve Heinze (concussion), Ken Belanger (concussion) and Erik Rasmussen (back), there’s a fresh chance for such young players as forwards Jerred Smithson and Jared Aulin.

Forward Brad Chartrand, who got his chance to break into the King lineup full-time last season, said the new faces add a sense of excitement to the team.

“It’s a test for our team because it’s an exciting challenge,” said Chartrand, who will be asked to step up on offense when the Kings play the Colorado Avalanche, the team that has knocked them out of the playoffs the last two seasons. “The new faces are going to be hungry. For some of them, it’s going to be their first game in the NHL. It’s a chance for them to show their stuff.”

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Belanger and Rasmussen were put on the injured list Saturday to make room on the active roster for Aulin and Steve Kelly, who were recalled from Manchester of the American Hockey League.

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TODAY

at Colorado, 3 p.m. PST

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Pepsi Center.

Radio -- KSPN (1110).

Records -- Kings 16-12-4-3, Avalanche 13-9-9-5.

Record vs. Avalanche -- 0-1.

Update -- After winning three consecutive games under new coach and former King Tony Granato, the Avalanche has lost two in a row. Goaltender Felix Potvin, who lost, 4-1, to Colorado in October, will start for the Kings.