Garon Ill; LaBarbera Gets Start

Goaltender Mathieu Garon was too ill to start against the Washington Capitals as planned Wednesday night, but he felt strong enough by game time to dress as the backup to Jason LaBarbera.

He was so flu-ridden Wednesday morning that the Kings didn’t let him enter their practice facility in El Segundo. Coach Andy Murray said trainer Pete Demers met Garon in the parking lot to dispense medicine for Garon’s fever and stomach woes.

“He was sick all night. Pete took his temperature and gave him some medication and we sent him home,” Murray said.

Garon had started the previous four games and 12 of the previous 15 after watching LaBarbera shoulder the load for the first month of the season.

“Here’s an opportunity. It’s not what we had planned, but it’s the way that it works out,” Murray said. “Sometimes those are things that are great opportunities for somebody.”

Garon’s absence Wednesday morning created an opening for a practice goalie. Enter Brad Sholl, general manager of the Toyota Sports Center and a former roller hockey netminder. Sholl, 41, had his pads handy and quickly stepped in.

“It’s an honor,” said Sholl, who plays in adult leagues. “I fill in probably a dozen times a year. I’m just a phone call away.”

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Ron Muniz, the Kings’ travel coordinator and director of team services from 1981 to 1991, died Wednesday after a long illness. He was 56, and lived in Murrieta.

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Forward George Parros, struck on the ankle by a shot in his first practice after recovering from an ankle sprain, might return during the next trip. Murray said the sprain has healed, but Parros now has a bruise on his ankle.