Kings Trying to Weather This Trip

COLUMBUS, Ohio —  The trip begins here, then wends its way through Atlanta, East Rutherford, N.J., and Uniondale, N.Y., before the Kings finally get some extended time at home.

“We have the toughest schedule in the National Hockey League for the first 16 games,” said Coach Andy Murray, whose goal through that 12-road-game, four-home-game stretch was to be in the Western Conference’s top eight at its end.

At the end of the season, a spot outside the top eight means no playoffs, and the Kings are below that now.

“After 16 games, we’ve got the best schedule in the NHL,” said Murray, whose idea of best in this case means more time spent in Staples Center.

To get their heads “above water”--Murray’s phrase for the top eight--the Kings will need to earn some points this week.

The last time in Columbus, on Oct. 9, the Kings won, 7-1, in a game preceded by a roll call. Murray listed the Kings’ roster, then the Blue Jackets’ roster and asked his players to tell him why they shouldn’t win.

Nobody could, and for good reason.

He’ll do it again today before the game and extend that comparison to the rest of this trip. Only in New Jersey will the Kings be found wanting.

“If our best players play like the best players on the ice, we’ll win,” Murray said flatly.

That means that Ziggy Palffy, Luc Robitaille, Jozef Stumpel and Steve Reinprecht will have to play much better than they did in losing, 3-1, on a listless Saturday night at Phoenix.

The Kings managed only 18 shots in that game, five by defenseman Rob Blake. The forwards were found wanting after playing so well in two victories over the Mighty Ducks earlier in the week.

To that end, the Kings had an unusual practice Monday morning, skating early before hopping a plane for Ohio.

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Murray was learning toward leaving Stu Grimson in the lineup for tonight’s game, which means wingers Jason Blake and Craig Johnson, both of whom were starters before being injured Oct. 19 in St. Louis, would be on the sideline.

Both Blake and Johnson are ready to play, and Murray left open the option of changing his mind after today’s morning skate.

TONIGHT

at Columbus, 4 PST

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Nationwide Arena.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 5-5-2, Blue Jackets 2-8-0-1.

* Record vs. Blue Jackets--1-0.

* Update--Columbus gained its first home victory, 3-1, over Washington on Friday night, then was handled easily at Detroit, 4-1, on Saturday in a game in which a frightening scene ended in Krzysztov Oliwa spinning into the boards after being hooked by Mathieu Dandeneault. Oliwa’s right arm was broken so badly that he is being withheld from contact for three months. Rookie David Vyborny leads Columbus with four goals, Tyler Wright with six points.