Storr Ready for Rehab Assignment

Kings’ backup goalie Jamie Storr, apparently improving after suffering a strained groin against the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 18, has been sent to Long Beach to rehabilitate and will be ready to play Thursday night when the Ice Dogs play host to Utah.

The question is how long he will be with Long Beach. Storr, 22, had 11 rehabilitation games with the Ice Dogs last season, but isn’t expected to be there as long this time.

Or could be there longer.

“We expect him back sooner, but if he goes down there and stinks up the place, it could be a while,” Coach Larry Robinson said Tuesday. “There’s no divine right that says he has to be back quickly. Our goalies haven’t hurt us here.”

Starter Stephane Fiset is beginning to skate again after suffering a groin injury on Oct. 18 and another on Oct. 25 at New Jersey.

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Chief among those goalies who haven’t hurt the Kings has been Manny Legace, who sat Tuesday in favor of Ryan Bach, who got his first NHL start.

“We played last night [at Vancouver] and we play Thursday and Saturday at home,” said Legace, who was ready and more than willing to play in his 11th game in a row.

Legace has a 1.97 goals-against average.

Bach, who arrived from Utah after being traded by Detroit on Oct. 22, played in his Red Wings’ helmet and red pads, because black equipment has not arrived.

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Jozef Stumpel played Tuesday for the first time since Oct. 18 and, 17 seconds into his first shift, assisted on Vladimir Tsyplakov’s goal for a 1-0 lead. . . . It was Tsyplakov’s third goal in as many games. . . . Luc Robitaille scored in the second period, and it was his fifth goal in four games. . . . Robitaille also had an assist for his sixth multi-point game of the season.