‘Norstrom the All-Star’ Sounds Strange to Him

The Kings’ Mattias Norstrom figures it’s going to be strange when the North American and World All-Star teams are announced to the crowd Sunday at Tampa, Fla.

“Norstrom: one goal, three assists,” he said Wednesday when he was added to the World team, which had lost two defensemen--Kenny Jonsson of the New York Islanders and Roman Hamrlik of Edmonton--because of injuries.

“This kind of game probably isn’t the kind of game that I play,” he said.

His game is hitting and carrying the defensive load for blue-line partner Rob Blake, who is on the North American team, and who recognizes Norstrom’s value.

“I think it’s great,” Blake said of Norstrom’s selection. “I respect what he does, and I think the rest of the league does too.”

Playing against Blake is nothing new for Norstrom. They have been matched in the Olympics, in the World Championships and World Cup, Norstrom playing for his native Sweden, Blake for Canada.

“They beat us, 3-2, in the Olympics,” said Norstrom, whose planned weekend trip to Big Bear “to see some snow” has been canceled so he can go to Tampa and see some sun.

“They beat us, 3-2, in the World Championships too.”

Nobody will beat anybody, 3-2, in the All-Star game, with hitting relatively limited and scoring the selling point.

And, for a change, a defensive defenseman on the World team.

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Winger Russ Courtnall reports emerging from Tuesday’s loss to Colorado with only the usual soreness of a player who hadn’t been in a game in two months.

The game was his first back after rehabilitating a broken ankle, and he had a goal and an assist against the Avalanche.

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Winger Craig Johnson has been put on injured reserve because of a rib injury suffered when he was cross-checked in a game against Calgary.

TONIGHT vs. New Jersey

7:30, Channel 9

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 16-24-4, Devils 24-14-5.

* Record vs. Devils--0-1.

* Update--New Jersey had lost three of four before Wednesday’s 4-3 victory at Anaheim, and the Devils have been missing winger Patrik Elias (seven goals, 14 assists) because of flu. They are led by center Bobby Holik, who has 18 goals and 39 points. The Kings are 1-3-1 in their last five games, and their goalie is expected to be Stephane Fiset (5-6-1), who struggled, giving up five goals, in Tuesday’s loss to the Avalanche.

* Tickets: (213) 365-3600.