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BOX SCORE
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Jamie Storr's timing was as sharp as his
reflexes.
With his job possibly on the line, Storr made 21 saves for his
fourth shutout as the Los Angeles Kings beat the expansion
Minnesota Wild 4-0 on Friday night.
|  | | Kings goalie Jamie Storr earned his fourth shutout of the season Friday night vs. the Wild. |
Felix Potvin, acquired Thursday in a trade with Vancouver, is
set to join the Kings in Chicago for their game there Sunday, but
Storr said he isn't threatened.
"I asked for Hasek," Storr deadpanned.
The Dominator, Dominik Hasek, remains in Buffalo, but Potvin's
presence will at least give Storr a breather. He has started 15 of
16 games since Stephane Fiset injured a knee against the Wild on
Dec. 23. Coach Andy Murray said he will decide Saturday who will
play against the Blackhawks.
"Any time you can strengthen a position, it's an asset," Storr
said. "Stephane's been out most of the season. We're not sure when
he'll be back. This is the most important two weeks of the season.
It's the most important month.
"It gives us stability. It's like having Stephane healthy."
Storr was backed by Zigmund Palffy, who had a goal and two
assists. The Kings scored twice on power plays against the Wild,
who came in tied for first in penalty killing. Minnesota allowed
just one power-play goal in their last 11 games, stopping 42 of 43
attempts.
"In the first period, we made two mistakes," Wild coach
Jacques Lemaire said. "We gave them two chances to score, and they
got one. Why we'd make those mistakes against a high-scoring team
like this, I don't know.
"In the second, we got frustrated and took some penalties, and
you can't do that against a team that can score like L.A."
Palffy scored his 26th goal of the season and assisted on
power-play scores by Mathieu Schneider and Luc Robitaille, who each
had an assist. Nelson Emerson gave the Kings a 4-0 lead at 11:36 of
the third period.
The Kings (25-24-8) moved within three points of Edmonton in the
race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western
Conference. If Los Angeles reaches the playoffs, it might have
three healthy goalies.
"Whoever we have in goal will be a solid guy," Storr said.
"Then when we get in the playoffs, pick one."
The Wild were handed their second-worst home loss. They were
beaten 5-0 by Colorado on Jan. 12.
Jamie McLennan, coming off his first back-to-back victories of
the season, stopped 27 Los Angeles shots but fell to 4-15-6.
Game notes
The Wild announced that Xcel Energy Center will become the
home to the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the nation's top
collegiate player. The award is moving from the Downtown Hotel and
Athletic Club in Bloomington, its home since its inception in 1981.
... Wild president Tod Leiweke has been given additional duties as
the club's chief operating officer. ... The Wild was shut out for
the fifth time at home.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Phoenix 2
Carolina 0
Detroit 4
Columbus 2
Florida 2
Boston 1
Pittsburgh 4
New Jersey 4
Chicago 6
St. Louis 2
Los Angeles 4
Minnesota 0
San Jose 2
Nashville 0
Dallas 3
Anaheim 2
NY Islanders 4
Edmonton 2
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