Kings 4, Coyotes 3

LOS ANGELES (AP) The similarities between the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes haven't escaped the coaches and players nor the trainers and medical staffs.

Injuries have put a severe dent in both teams' playoff aspirations. The Kings, seven points out of a playoff spot despite a 4-3 victory over Phoenix on Wednesday night, have eight players on injured reserve. The Coyotes have seven on injured reserve, and are eight points out of a postseason berth.

``Their team has suffered through a lot of injuries, like ours has,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said. ``Both teams play similar styles physical, asserting, and are good in transition. All the games we've had against them have been battles.''

The Kings and Coyotes have met three times since the Kings' 4-1 victory on opening night, and all three have been decided by one-goal margins. This time, it was Eric Rasmussen's insurance goal with 3:40 remaining that proved to be the game-winner.

``They've got a good team. I watched them destroy a couple of teams in their last couple of games on my satellite dish,'' Kings goalie Jamie Storr said after making 31 saves.

``They're a tough team to play. Against a team like that, which goes to the net, you realize there's going to more traffic and more pucks. Fortunately, that's the kind of game we play also.''

Phoenix's Daniel Briere recorded his second career three-point game and first since last April 1, scoring his 12th goal on a power play late in the second period. He also set up rookie Ramzi Abid's 10th goal and Daymond Langkow's 12th, in a game the Coyotes never led.

``It's just frustrating, letting two points go like that,'' Briere said. ``We know how important this game was, and again we weren't ready right off the bat. There's no excuses anymore. We weren't prepared and we didn't play hard enough.''

Especially in front of their own net. Rasmussen, Steve Heinze and rookie Alexander Frolov all converted rebounds given up by Zac Bierk, who allowed a pair of first-period goals after shots that bounced off his chest.

``Every goalie leaves rebounds. It's just a matter of getting to them,'' Kings center Bryan Smolinski said. ``That's just a product of going hard to the net. You want to shoot hard, so if the middle guy's going hard to the net, he's going to get a chance because something's going to happen.''

The Kings won for only the fifth time in 18 games (5-13-0). It's the first time they've won consecutive games started by Storr since Nov. 22-24 of last season. He shut out Ottawa in the Kings' last game before the All-Star break.< ^Notes:@ The Kings have sandwiched the All-Star break with victories for the first time since 1997-98. ... Mathieu Schneider, the Kings' only All-Star, scored on a power play for his 11th goal and the 31st by Los Angeles defensemen, the most in the league. ... Briere has a plus-6 rating in road games, but is minus-16 at home. ... Coyotes RW Tony Amonte, whose streak of 453 consecutive games was the longest by any active player until it ended Jan. 11, returned after missing eight games because of bruised ribs.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)