Kings Open 5-Game Trip Against New Jersey Tonight

The Kings, winners of two straight and looking to drop one of three goaltenders before returning home, meet the New Jersey Devils tonight at Brendan Byrne Arena (delayed, KGIL 6 p.m. and KMNY 10 p.m.) in the opener of a five-game trip.

A win by the Kings (12-24-4, 28 points) coupled with a loss by the Vancouver Canucks (29 points) at Toronto would move Los Angeles out of the cellar in the Smythe Division for the first time since Nov. 26. New Jersey is 18-16-5 and tied with Washington at 41 points for second place in the Patrick Division, just 2 points behind first-place Philadelphia and the New York Rangers, who are tied.

The Kings are 0-1-1 against New Jersey this season after taking two of three games from the Devils last season. They tied, 2-2, Nov. 29 at the Forum and the Kings lost, 2-1, here Dec. 9 in Robbie Ftorek’s first game as coach after replacing Mike Murphy.

The Kings have been carrying three goalies, but one--Bob Janecyk, Roland Melanson or Glenn Healy--figures to be sent to the New Haven, Conn., farm team by the end of the trip Jan. 11 at Minnesota. Healy, who played well in the Kings’ 5-2 victory Saturday over the Montreal Canadiens at the Forum, thinks the issue, for the most part, is settled.

“I tried not to think about it,” said Healy, who turned away 22 of 24 shots and shut out the Canadiens over the final two periods. The Canadiens have the best record in the NHL. “It’s (Ftorek’s) decision on the goaltenders and I’m sure he’s already made it. It’s not going to come down to one game.”