Murray and Avery at Odds

The rift between Coach Andy Murray and forward Sean Avery seemed to grow Thursday, the day after the Kings’ losing streak reached seven games.

Avery was benched the last two games and suggested that his relationship with Murray had deteriorated after a loss Wednesday to Columbus. Murray said he was using the players “that give us the best chance to win.”

Murray responded Thursday, saying, “I don’t know if there has been a bigger supporter of Sean Avery than me. When everyone else in North America was down on him, I was saying what an important player he was on this team.”

But Murray said that Avery “needed to respect his teammates, respect the coach, the [assistant] coaches, the support staff, the fans and the game.”

Avery took offense to those suggestions.

“Ask the other fellas if I respect them,” Avery said. “The two things I always respect are my teammates and the game. Why else would I be playing? I thought it was because ‘I wasn’t playing hard.’ ”

Craig Conroy, an assistant captain, jumped to Avery’s defense.

“Of course, he respects his teammates,” Conroy said. “Sean says things, we all know that. But if he says something one of us doesn’t like, he’ll make things right. Every guy here knows that Sean is a team guy.”

Avery’s effectiveness on the ice has diminished in recent weeks. He has one goal in his last 14 games and has averaged three penalty minutes over the last 10 games. Still, the Kings’ scoring is down as a team and the number of penalties are up.

Asked if he expected to be in the lineup Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, Avery said, “Yeah, I certainly do.”

*

Forward Pavol Demitra was named the captain of the Slovakian Olympic team.... Defenseman Mattias Norstrom was examined by a doctor Thursday. He sat out against Columbus because of a cervical strain, team officials said. His status for Saturday is uncertain.