Anaheim Road Stops Sure Seem to Help

When the Kings play the Minnesota Wild tonight at Staples Center, it will be the 13th time in 24 home games that they’ve played a team that had to play elsewhere the night before, usually at Anaheim, as in this case.

The Kings are 6-4-2 in those games, 4-5-1-1 in other home games.

“I don’t know if there’s any real distinct advantage,” Coach Andy Murray said. “These guys are in such good shape. And quite often the teams have come through Anaheim feeling pretty good about themselves. We’re a lot further ahead if they’re coming in from Phoenix or Colorado or San Jose or Vancouver.”

Actually, the Kings are 0-2-1 against teams that played at San Jose the night before they played the Kings. They’re 0-0-1 against the team that played at Phoenix, and they’re 6-2 against the teams that played at Anaheim.

After tonight, the Kings play six more home games against teams that will play elsewhere the night before, four coming from Anaheim.

*

Murray, on the two-game suspension given to Kevin Sawyer of the Ducks for decking King goaltender Felix Potvin in Monday night’s game: “I don’t ever like to see a player get suspended ... but what he did was wrong. It was a stupid play.”

Of the high stick by Duck defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski that cut Craig Johnson’s right eye, Murray said: “I’m sure it was accidental.”

*

Eric Belanger, sidelined since suffering a sprained left wrist Jan. 15, will be told next week if he needs surgery to repair ligament damage. Surgery would sideline him an additional six to eight weeks.

*

In practice Wednesday, a high stick by Kelly Buchberger opened a cut on Brad Chartrand’s face that required six stitches. Later, Ian Laperriere got in the way of a puck off Chartrand’s stick, opening a cut on his nose that needed 10 stitches.

“Fortunately, he’s married,” Murray said of Laperriere. “His looks don’t matter.”

TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 22-18-7-2, Wild 17-21-8-4.

Record vs. Wild--0-1-1.

Update--The Kings, 4-3 losers against the Wild on Oct. 7 at Staples Center, battled back from a 2-0 first-period deficit in a 2-2 tie Nov. 18 at St. Paul, Minn., after giving up power-play goals on each of the Wild’s first two shots.

Tickets--(888) 546-4752.

Jerry Crowe