Rare Sighting of Storr Will Be Made Today

Jamie Storr, all but forgotten during the Kings’ stretch drive into the playoffs last season, will make his first start of the exhibition season today at 5 p.m. against the Mighty Ducks at Centennial Garden in Bakersfield.

He’s expected to play again before the regular season opens Oct. 9.

After that, who knows?

While Felix Potvin established a club record by playing in 71 games last season, Storr made only 12 starts, posting a 9-4-3 record and sparkling 1.90 goals-against average in 19 appearances. His start in the season finale, a 1-0 victory over the Ducks, was his first in 23 games, only his second in 35.

But Storr, 26, never complained. He never asked to be traded. Over the summer, when he became a restricted free agent, he could have held out or filed for arbitration. Instead, he quietly signed a one-year, $1.595-million contract.

“Obviously, there are times where you want to play more and times where you feel on other teams that you could,” says Storr, beginning his ninth season with the Kings, “but I’m going to leave that up to the Kings to make that decision. In the end, whatever’s best for the L.A. Kings is what’s going to happen--not what’s best for Jamie Storr or Felix Potvin.”

Coach Andy Murray says he plans to use Storr more often this season, “but we reserve the right to do what fits the situation.”

In other words, it could be more of the same for the backup, who knows that the Kings have held preliminary talks with Potvin about a contract extension.

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When individual tickets went on sale Saturday, the Kings sold out their first three games--against Phoenix, Detroit and Colorado.

Jerry Crowe

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Who’s No. 1 is a given, as goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere will handle 60-65 games this season for the Mighty Ducks. The competition to be the backup has begun.

Ilja Bryzgalov, J.F. Damphousse and Martin Gerber are also being considered. Gerber stopped all 18 shots he saw against Minnesota on Friday and started in goal for the Ducks at Phoenix on Saturday. The Ducks won, 4-2.

Bryzgalov and Damphousse will play tonight, when the Ducks and Kings play in Bakersfield.

The Ducks’ prefer the 22-year-old Bryzgalov play a lot and will probably have him spend another season at minor league Cincinnati.

Chris Foster