Fiset Receives Vote of Confidence

King goalie Stephane Fiset admits he played a poor game against Phoenix.

So the goalie for tonight’s game against San Jose is . . . Stephane Fiset.

“I think the team feels responsible for what happened to him,” Coach Andy Murray said Saturday after a remedial practice and a meeting in which the Kings’ effort in Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Coyotes was questioned graphically.

“I think he feels responsible for what happened to the team. It’s all part of accountability. I’m not changing anybody else, why change Stephane? He’s played so well for us and has had one bad game. He deserves a vote of confidence from me.”

Fiset, who is 4-3-2 in goal, his record mirroring that of the Kings, was grateful for the faith.

“I was surprised a little bit,” he said of the decision. “Now I need to do the job, to show that he made the right decision.”

Fiset struggled on “soft” second-period goals by Dallas Drake and Trevor Letowski and also on two goals in the third period, when the issue was no longer in doubt.

He had carried a 1.93 goals-against average into the game.

Murray also broke with his usual system of naming goalies on a game-by-game basis to announce that Jamie Storr will start Tuesday against Washington. Storr has played one period all season.

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The message sent when the Kings’ first two lines spent the last six minutes of Friday’s game on the bench was received.

“We’re supposed to be the leaders and we weren’t leading,” first-line center Jozef Stumpel said.

“It has to get to you,” second-line winger Donald Audette said. “It’s something I’m not used to.”

TONIGHT

vs. San Jose, 6:30

Fox Sports West

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 4-3-2, Sharks 7-4-0.

* Record vs. Sharks (1998-99)--4-2.

* Update--San Jose has the NHL’s best record and the best mark in franchise history, and the Sharks have done so with center Owen Nolan (eight goals, nine assists) picking up points in 10 of their 11 games. Goalie Steve Shields had a 1.85 goals-against average before Saturday’s game against Boston, and that included a six-goal outing Thursday at Detroit. Mike Vernon has been shuffled to a backup-goalie role, though he could play tonight. After a 2-0 start, the Kings have gone 2-3-2, and they are 0-2-1 in their last three games.

* Tickets--(888) 546-4752.