Palffy, Stumpel May Return Thursday

The Kings, already short-staffed at the forward position, will wait until at least Thursday for the return of Ziggy Palffy and Jozef Stumpel.

Palffy, hit in the face with a puck Saturday, and Stumpel, out since Oct. 25 because of a chest bruise, sat out Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. They could return Thursday against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Palffy, who had two broken teeth and soft-tissue damage in the right side of his face, will have a protective bar added to his helmet around the jaw area.

“We’re hopeful that he’ll be in the lineup Thursday,” Coach Andy Murray said. “If the swelling had gone down enough, there was a thought,” he would play Tuesday.

Stumpel “didn’t feel that he [could] play,” Murray said. “Hopefully he can play Thursday.”

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Backup Cristobal Huet was given the start Tuesday against the Devils, but Murray said beforehand that the Kings did not have a goaltender controversy.

“Huet had a shutout in the last game,” Murray said. “There is no controversy. It makes sense to go back to the guy who had the shutout.”

Murray said he was not unsatisfied with Roman Cechmanek’s play.

“Our goals-against is pretty darn good,” he said. “His save percentage is pretty good. I think there’s some goals along the way he would like to have back, but I think overall we’re pretty happy with our goaltending.”

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Defenseman Brad Norton, out since the preseason because of an injury to his forearm, is still three to four weeks away from returning, Murray said.... Defenseman Maxim Kuznetsov practiced with the Kings after playing three games with minor league affiliate Manchester (N.H.) as part of a voluntary conditioning assignment.