Murray Enjoys Frolov’s Goal

Among the gratifying moments for the Kings in Monday night’s 3-2 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks was the sight of Alexander Frolov blasting a third-period shot past goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff from about 40 feet out.

“He hammered that,” Coach Andy Murray said.

In the Kings’ continuing effort to persuade the Russian rookie to let loose, the goal couldn’t have been more timely.

“Probably the best thing that happened was, that one went in,” Murray said. “You’d like to think that would give him some impetus to shoot the puck more.”

Like many Russian players, Murray said, Frolov has been reluctant.

“He could probably score on wraparounds whenever he wanted [in Russia], so why shoot it?” Murray said.

The goal was Frolov’s eighth, but only his second in 22 games.

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The Kings’ victory over the Sharks ended a five-game losing streak at Staples Center, the club’s longest home slide in 17 years.

Bryan Smolinski, sidelined since Dec. 26 because of a scratched left cornea, had eye surgery Monday and is expected to return to the lineup next week.

Eric Belanger, who sat out Monday’s game after aggravating a back injury, is not expected to travel with the Kings to Canada for a two-game trip that starts Thursday at Edmonton. He probably is headed for injured reserve, with rookie Jared Aulin expected to fill his roster spot.

Murray, on the Kings’ remaining 38 games, only 12 of which are against teams ahead of them in the Western Conference standings: “If we end the season with 93 [to] 95 points, we’ll be in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter who we beat along the way.”