Last-Place Kings Face Flyers Tonight at the Spectrum

The Kings, who fell into last place in the Smythe Division of the National Hockey League early Wednesday morning as they bused here from Long Island, will play the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at the Spectrum.

As the Kings made their way from Uniondale, N.Y., where Tuesday night they squandered a 3-1 third-period lead and lost to the New York Islanders, 4-3, the Vancouver Canucks were beating the Pittsburgh Penguins at Vancouver.

The Canucks (6-10-2) thus moved two points ahead of the Kings, who are 5-11-2 and have lost their last four road games, including a 4-1 decision to the Flyers Nov. 1 at the Spectrum.

King Notes Craig Redmond, suspended last month when he failed to report to the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate at New Haven, Conn., said by phone from his parents’ home in Langley, Canada, that he will join the Canadian Olympic team next month. “I don’t think I can pass up the chance to play in the Olympics, especially since they’re going to be played in Calgary, which is so close to my hometown,” said Redmond, who indicated last week that he might retire. “I really enjoyed playing in Sarajevo (in the 1984 Games). It was one of my most enjoyable experiences in hockey.” General Manager Rogie Vachon of the Kings said he was asked by the National Hockey League not to release Redmond, who has agreed to waive his salary, until after next month’s Board of Governors meeting. Redmond said he will probably join Team Canada after Dec. 7 . . . Larry Playfair, who had major reconstructive surgery on his left knee last February, practiced with the Kings and is expected to start tonight. The rehabilitation of his knee is said to be more than three months ahead of schedule.