Defense Steady Despite Injuries

The King defense, with every reason to be humbled and hobbled without Lubomir Visnovsky and Aaron Miller, has been somewhat steady and surprising as the Kings continue to fight for a playoff spot.

The Kings held the Columbus Blue Jackets to 21 shots in Saturday’s 4-3 victory and thoroughly contained the Blue Jacket offense except in the final seven minutes.

The Kings are averaging 2.75 goals against in the last four games, more than the two goals a game with which King Coach Andy Murray is comfortable, but less than a worst-case scenario for a largely untested, inexperienced defense.

Defenseman Tomas Zizka and Tim Gleason, who were called up two weeks ago from Manchester (N.H.), have been sturdy in separate ways. Zizka has been effective on offense and has spent extensive time on the power play, and Gleason has held his own in the defensive zone. Combined, they have played 55 NHL games.

“Both Gleason and [Zizka] are competing,” Murray said. “They’re skating quite well, but ... keep it going.”

Visnovsky, one of the league’s highest-scoring defensemen before getting injured, has sat out eight games because of nerve damage in his shoulder.

Miller, a more physical presence at the blue line, has sat out 33 games because of a pinched nerve in his neck.

Neither player is skating, and there is no timetable for their return.

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Ian Laperriere demanded to keep the puck after he had scored the first of two goals Saturday, and not because goals had been rare commodities for the checking-line forward.

Laperriere wanted to give the puck to 6-year-old Cameron Costanza, who skated with the Kings near the end of practice Friday. Cameron, who has congenital heart disease, was allowed to come onto the ice as part of the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Laperriere purchased nine tickets for Cameron and his family, from Saugus, for Saturday’s game.

“He’s lucky he picked a game where I scored,” Laperriere joked afterward.

“He was an inspiration for all of us. He showed us hockey is just a game.”

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The Kings’ next two games are against playoff contenders in similar situations -- the Nashville Predators tonight and Dallas Stars on Wednesday.

But Murray downplayed their importance relative to the rest of the schedule.

“There isn’t any way right now that one game is more important than any other game,” he said.

The Kings, Predators and Stars are part of a five-team scramble for the final four playoff spots in the Western Conference.

TONIGHT

vs. Nashville, 7:30

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 23-17-14-7, Predators 30-22-7-2.

Record vs. Predators -- 2-0-1-0.

Update -- Nashville has ripped the nets lately with 18 goals in three games, including an 8-2 victory Saturday over the Phoenix Coyotes. Right wing Steve Sullivan, who was acquired last week from the Chicago Blackhawks, has five goals and five assists in three games. The Kings have had their way with the Predators in recent seasons, going 13-2-3-1 against Nashville since 1999-2000. The most recent game in the series was a 0-0 tie Jan. 13 at Nashville.