Storr Working on Work Ethic

DALLAS —  First, Jamie Storr answered questions about his problems in goal a week ago.

“Really, I would rather have just gone inside,” he said of dealing with an inquisition a week ago.

Then he read how badly he played.

“My first mistake was reading the paper,” said Storr, who was back in goal Saturday night in the Kings’ 4-3 loss to the Stars. “I misinterpreted it.. . . Sometimes you read too much into things.”

The paper said that Storr needed to stop more pucks. It also beseeched Stephane Fiset to get well.

“We’re only human,” Storr said. “You want to play perfect every game. Sometimes you get down on yourself.”

He had played five of the Kings’ first six games and by his estimation--and that of goalie consultant Don Edwards--had done well in four of them. The Kings were 2-1-1 in the four good ones. They beat Washington and Columbus, lost to Buffalo--which loaded up on power-play goals--and tied St. Louis. It was something to rebuild a psyche on.

“It’s a long season,” Storr said. “It’s too early to get down.”

It wasn’t too early to stop working. It never is.

When Steve Passmore started games Tuesday in Nashville and Thursday in St. Louis, Storr’s lot was to practice. “I got in 1 1/2 hours Tuesday, 1:20 on Wednesday, 1:20 Thursday and more on Friday,” he said. “If you aren’t getting ready for the game, you’re working on your work ethic.”

It’s something that Storr has been accused of missing.

“Jamie is going to have to work hard in practice to get the job back,” Coach Andy Murray said when benching Storr in favor of Passmore.

Storr has, starting with a bit of soul-searching with Edwards on Monday morning before the Kings took off for Nashville.

“I owe a lot to Donnie,” Storr said. “He’s really helped.

“I want the starting job. I want to earn it, and I know the only way to do it is through work.”

And maybe through not reading.

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Craig Johnson, who left Thursday’s game after being hit on his foot by a shot, was doubtful Friday, then erased any doubt Saturday when he played against the Stars on a line centered by Bryan Smolinski and including Nelson Emerson.

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Captain Rob Blake, rehabilitating a hairline fracture of his lumbar vertebrae, skated 45 minutes on Friday and is scheduled to go again today, with a possibility that he will be ready to play as early as midweek.