Murray Only Needs to Get His Timing Back

Glen Murray returned after being sidelined 19 games because of a knee injury, and pronounced himself none the worse for wear after his return.

Coach Larry Robinson agreed Sunday, the day after Murray played in a 2-2 tie at Calgary.

“I don’t think really, mentally, that he was too bothered by it, but his timing was a little off,” Robinson said. “You have to expect that. And his conditioning was pretty good.”

Murray played 28 shifts totaling 23 minutes 51 seconds, including time spent penalty killing and on the power play. He started the game on the second power-play unit but moved up by the second man-advantage opportunity.

He was tentative at first, trying to get used to playing with a knee brace for the first time, but seemed to forget about that once he got into the game.

“I felt a little behind the play,” Murray said. “And one time, in the overtime, I felt a little twinge, but they say that I have to expect that. But I think it went pretty well, considering I haven’t played in [20] games.”

Murray tore a knee ligament in a game against Colorado on Jan. 2 and his return came exactly seven weeks later, one week ahead of the doctors’ schedule.

*

Defenseman Chris Pronger of the Blues has missed four games after being hit by a puck on the left ankle.

Tonight

at St. Louis

5 p.m.,

Fox Sports West

* Site--Kiel Center.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 21-31-5, Blues 22-23-10.

* Record vs. Blues--0-1-1.

* Update--This is the sixth of a seven-game home stand for St. Louis, with all of the games against teams with sub-.500 records. The Blues have lost three of five, including Saturday night, 4-3, to Nashville. That earned them an expletive-laced tirade from their captain, Al MacInnis, who called them “idiots” and said “some guys didn’t show up.” “It’s Game 55,” MacInnis added, “and there are guys who haven’t done a thing in 55 games.” The Kings haven’t won in St. Louis since Nov. 7, 1995, and are 1-7 in their last eight games at the Kiel Center.