Murray Doesn’t Blame Stumpel

To the casual fan with TV remote in hand, Jozef Stumpel contributed to the Kings’ failure to extend a once-large lead in Thursday’s 4-4 tie with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Stumpel missed an open net with 20 seconds left in the second period and failed to convert on a Phoenix turnover that could have put the Kings ahead, 4-1.

It’s tough to defend a player who missed hockey’s equivalent of a layup, but King Coach Andy Murray praised Stumpel on Friday morning for “being our best forward” Thursday.

“We challenged him at the morning skate to elevate his game and he did,” Murray said.

Stumpel, reacquired by the Kings in an off-season trade with Boston, has scored only one goal in 18 games but he had two assists against the Coyotes and made other positive plays ... with the exception of the missed open net.

“I thought he played with some bite defensively,” Murray said. “I thought he took some shots. I thought he was around the puck a lot. I thought he was our best forward. I told the guys that, too.”

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There were obvious flaws in Thursday’s game -- there always are when a 3-0 lead disappears -- but Murray opted not to dwell. The Kings’ next two games are against the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks.

“We can be unhappy with what happened last night, and we are, and yet I’ve got to give these guys some credit for what they’ve done here,” Murray said. “Playing a good opponent like Colorado [tonight], I don’t want to hammer on our team too much.”

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Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky did not practice Friday but is expected to play tonight. Visnovsky, one of the league’s highest-scoring defensemen, suffered a scratch near his right eye and had a headache after being struck by Daymond Langkow’s stick Thursday.... Forward Michael Cammalleri practiced Friday after catching an edge and going head-first into the boards against the Coyotes.... Right wing John Tripp was sent down Friday to Manchester (N.H.) and probably will be replaced in the lineup by enforcer Kip Brennan, who has been out since Nov. 30 because of a bruised leg. Tripp did not have a point in eight games with the Kings.

TONIGHT

vs. Colorado, 7:30 PST

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 16-11-2-3, Avalanche 16-9-5-1.

Record vs. Avalanche -- 1-0.

Update -- Colorado center Peter Forsberg is close to returning from a groin/abdominal injury that has kept him out since Nov. 9, but he probably won’t be back against the Kings. Left wing Paul Kariya will not play because of a wrist injury that has limited him to seven games. The Kings will probably go up against rookie Philippe Sauve, who is 2-4-1 with a .910 save percentage. King goaltender Roman Cechmanek probably will play tonight.