Migraine Sidelined Norstrom

The blurred vision that forced defenseman Mattias Norstrom from Tuesday’s 4-4 tie with the Calgary Flames was caused by a migraine, King Coach Andy Murray said Wednesday.

It is Murray’s theory that the migraine was brought on by the Chinook winds, Calgary’s version of the Santa Ana winds.

“It had nothing to do with hockey,” Murray said. “He couldn’t see right. We couldn’t risk putting him in.”

So, the Kings made do without their captain for the second and third periods, rallying from deficits of 2-0 and 4-2 to earn a point against Calgary.

The Kings, Flames and Nashville Predators are tied for sixth place in the Western Conference standings with 60 points.

Norstrom, the Kings’ lone All-Star representative, did not join his teammates for a spirited practice Wednesday and was given today off as well. Norstrom will play for the Western Conference All-Stars during Sunday’s game at St. Paul, Minn.

“At this point, we don’t even think about injuries anymore,” Murray said when asked if he was relieved that Norstrom was not seriously hurt.

The Kings have played much of the season without injured standouts Jason Allison, Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller and Ziggy Palffy. They played Tuesday without defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, who suffered neck and shoulder injuries when Edmonton’s Ethan Moreau checked him into the boards Saturday.

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Right wing John Tripp and defenseman Tomas Zizka were sent to the Kings’ Manchester, N.H., farm club.... Eric Belanger and Luc Robitaille also did not skate as Murray gave them a day off.... The team will practice again today, then break for the All-Star weekend. Murray plans to return to Minnesota to watch his children, Brady, Jordan and Sarah, play hockey. “I would much rather watch them than the All-Star game,” Murray said.... The Kings’ first game after the break is Tuesday at Minnesota.