Stauber to Remain in Goal for Kings : NHL playoffs: The rookie stopped 28 shots during a 3-1 victory over the Flames in Game 4.

Rookie Robb Stauber, who didn’t even suit up for the first two games of the NHL playoffs, will start in goal for the Kings against the Calgary Flames in Game 5 of the Smythe Division semifinals tonight.

While King Coach Barry Melrose wasted no time in choosing Stauber, Calgary Coach Dave King wouldn’t say whether he will play Jeff Reese or Mike Vernon in goal.

Melrose surprised the Flames by replacing veteran Kelly Hrudey with Stauber, who excelled as the Kings beat Calgary, 3-1, on Sunday at the Forum to tie the best-of-seven series, 2-2.

“He played well and we won. That pretty well covers it,” Melrose said of Stauber. “He came in, played well and maybe jolted some guys. You have to do things when you lose and try to change things.”

King inserted backup Reese for an injured Vernon moments before Friday’s third game, which the Flames won, 5-2.

Vernon didn’t practice Monday and received treatment for ligament problems in his right ankle.

“I feel I can play if I’m called upon,” Vernon said. “Jeff has done very well. I am healthy.”

Reese, who stopped all but five of the 53 shots he faced in the two games at Los Angeles, shrugged when asked if he will play tonight.

“I don’t know a thing,” he said. “Sometimes I get a better sleep when I don’t know.”

King said he would make a decision sometime today.

“We usually call them in the afternoon before the game,” King said. “We’re going to see how Mike is feeling. You just don’t go with a gut feeling. You try to look at some of the results to give you a feeling of where you are with your goalies, who has the hot hand, who is playing well.”

Reese had a 2-1 record and 2.70 goals-against average in four regular season games against the Kings, but was considered the No. 2 goalie behind Vernon.

Vernon was 1-2-1 and had a 3.93 goals against against the Kings, but has more playoff experience.

Stauber, who stopped 28 shots Sunday, faced the Flames once during the regular season and lost, 5-3. Hrudey went 2-2-1 against Calgary and had a 2.91 goals-against average.

Flames center Joel Otto, who has three goals in the series, laughed when asked which King goaltender he would rather face.

“You’re going to have to ask someone that is a gifted goal scorer,” he said. “I’m not in that department. I shoot the puck at the net and hope it goes in.”

Melrose shrugged off criticism that his top scorers, Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Tony Granato and Tomas Sandstrom, haven’t scored during the series.

“We’re 2-2 and those guys haven’t scored for us. It can only get better for us,” he said. “If those guys are playing well and they get a chance, it’s going to go in sooner or later.”

King credited Otto and Roger Johansson for playing strong defense against the Kings.

“They’ve done a pretty good job of staying on top of those people and not giving them very much ice to work with,” he said. “We’d like to continue that, but there’s no guarantee.”