Playoff Chase Renews After Extra Day Off

Because the Kings do not play again until Wednesday, when they travel south to play the Mighty Ducks, Coach Andy Murray gave his team the day off Sunday. With the added rest, the beat-up Kings hope to get back into the playoff picture.

After losing in overtime at Calgary on Saturday, the Kings dropped to 3-10-0-1 since Christmas.

At 18-20-4-4, the Kings are two games under .500 and four points away from last place in the Western Conference. But they also are only four points from the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.

“All that matters is for this team to make the playoffs,” backup goaltender Jamie Storr said earlier this month. “If we make the playoffs, no one would care about what we’re going through right now.”

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One recent bright spot for the Kings has been the play of goalie Felix Potvin, who has played well since giving up five goals in a loss to Edmonton on Jan. 9.

In the Kings’ overtime loss to the Flames, Potvin made sure that the Kings at least picked up a point with 14 saves in the third period.

Potvin has allowed only two goals in each of his last four starts, despite facing 100 combined shots on goal.

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The Kings, who’ve had more than their share of injuries this season, may have lost another Saturday in defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, who left the game in the first period after banging into teammate Steve Heinze and did not return.

Visnovsky suffered a left knee sprain and it’s uncertain how long he’ll be sidelined.