Murray to Coach Team Canada

His pursuit of the Stanley Cup has been put on hold for another year but Andy Murray has a chance to win another world championship.

The King coach was named Monday to lead Team Canada in the World Hockey Championships starting April 26 in Finland. Canada has won the annual event only twice since 1956, the last time in 1997, when Murray was coach.

“I think it’s an obligation whenever your country calls, no matter the circumstances,” Murray said before Monday night’s 5-4 overtime victory over the Phoenix Coyotes at America West Arena.

“I told them I would work as a stick boy or a bus driver. Whatever they wanted, I would help in any way.”

Of course, he would rather coach the Kings in the playoffs, but a slew of injuries has derailed their season.

Their playoff hopes officially ended last week.

This will be Murray’s third time coaching Team Canada in the World Championships. Before his hiring by the Kings in June 1999, he coached his country’s national men’s team from 1996-98.

In Monday’s game, Steve Kelly scored 1:42 into overtime as the Kings ended a seven-game winless streak.

Ziggy Palffy scored twice, and Kelly, Eric Belanger and Ian Laperriere had a goal and an assist each for the Kings, who were 0-4-2-1 since beating Washington on March 14.

Rookie goaltender Cristobal Huet of Los Angeles made 29 saves to remain unbeaten in three starts (2-0-1) and send the Coyotes to their season-high sixth loss in a row, the first in overtime. Palffy has 37 points in 29 games.

Before the game, Coyote managing partner Wayne Gretzky announced that he and his wife named their fifth child Emma Marie. She was born Friday.