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Murray May Keep Potvin on Bench

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Times Staff Writer

Already minus eight injured skaters, the Kings might be without another familiar face Thursday night when they face the Philadelphia Flyers.

Goaltender Felix Potvin, pulled by Coach Andy Murray early in the third period of Monday night’s 2-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks after giving up two goals in eight shots, might be given a longer, unasked-for rest.

“That’s a possibility,” Murray said Tuesday.

Potvin gave up six goals in the last 41 minutes of Sunday’s 6-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche and, though Brad Chartrand made him a winner with an overtime goal, he also struggled Thursday against the Phoenix Coyotes.

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“Felix hasn’t played up to his standard,” Murray said, “but he’s our No. 1 goalie and we want to get him back playing the way we know he’s capable.”

Potvin was given a short breather early last season. While backup Jamie Storr started four of five games -- and relieved Potvin 23 minutes into the other -- Potvin huddled with goaltending consultant Andy Nowicki.

“He worked out a few things and he was better,” Murray said of his No. 1 goaltender, who started all but six of the Kings’ next 57 games, ending the season with a club-record 71 appearances and a career-best 2.31 goals-against average. “We have to decide if that’s the thing to do now.”

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Of the nine Kings sidelined against Chicago, down from 10 against the Avalanche after defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky returned, Murray said probably only rookie Alexander Frolov would play against the Flyers.

He expects the remaining eight to also sit out Saturday against the Dallas Stars.

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