Murray’s Success Pleases Pulford

Bob Pulford had a 27-year run atop the King coaching charts. Then came this season, and the need to step aside for Andy Murray, who passed Pulford in career games with the Kings and is tied with him for career victories.

Pulford’s response? Good for Murray, and the Kings.

“I’m still interested in how they’re doing,” said Pulford, now the general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks. “I still have a lot of friends there. Andy’s done an outstanding job of coaching, fighting for a playoff spot with all the injuries they have. He deserves a lot of recognition.”

Pulford went 178-150-68 from 1972 to ‘77, including a 42-17-21 record in 1974-75 that still stands as a team record for points in a season (105). Goaltender Rogie Vachon had 27 victories that season, and the Kings had seven 20-goal scorers.

“We had great players ... Vachon, Butch Goring and Bobby Berry and a lot of other players that played well,” Pulford said. “I found those years to be probably the most satisfying in my career. I cherish those years.

“We played a system that would have been very popular today. We played a defensive system and had great goaltending. That was the reason we were successful. People like Marcel Dionne came there and bought into the system because it was successful.”

The Kings lost in the playoffs to the Boston Bruins in quarterfinal series that went seven games in 1976 and six games in 1977.

“In those years, we outdrew the Lakers,” Pulford said. “We were never able to get by Boston. If we had, hockey would have really taken off.”

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Goaltender Roman Cechmanek has declared himself fit to play.

Cechmanek, who has sat out 12 games, has not been activated from the injured-reserve list, but he said Tuesday his groin is no longer sore and he is rapidly getting back into game shape.

“Every day feels better and better,” Cechmanek said. “I’ve had a lot of work the last couple days. I feel 100% better than last week. No pain. I’m ready.”

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Left wing Luc Robitaille was honored before Tuesday’s game for playing his 1,000th game as a King on Saturday in San Jose.... Center Eric Belanger returned to the lineup after sitting out Sunday’s game because of food poisoning from a salad.... The Kings are encouraging fans to wear purple to all remaining home games as part of a “march to the playoffs” promotion.