Ferraro Showing Kings How It’s Done

When Ray Ferraro’s left knee swelled up last week--the same knee that required surgery in December and kept him out of the lineup twice more when it became inflamed--the Kings’ veteran center did what had to be done.

He had it drained of fluid, and went back out there.

Hey, these are the playoffs. No coddling allowed. Got a bad knee? There’s time for it to heal in July and August.

“I’m going to need a scope at the end of the season,” Ferraro said, “but it’s not bad enough right now that I can’t play. If it swells up with fluid again, we’ll get it drained again and go from there.”

In hockey lore, Ferraro’s determination to play on a balky knee probably doesn’t match Bob Baun’s heroism in playing the sixth game of the 1964 Stanley Cup finals on a broken ankle. It’s a smaller act of courage, but an act of courage nonetheless and a vivid example to a team full of playoff neophytes of the price to be paid for success at this time of year.

Ferraro missed the embarrassment of the Kings’ 8-3 loss at St. Louis in their playoff opener but was restored to the lineup for Game 2, a strong effort that ended in a 2-1 loss. Coach Larry Robinson, mindful that Ferraro’s 56 games’ worth of playoff experience is the team’s fourth-highest total, said there’s a good chance Ferraro will again be in uniform tonight for the Kings’ first Forum playoff game since June 7, 1993, when they lost Game 4 of the Cup finals to Montreal.

“He’s experienced. He’s been there before and we’re able to use that experience,” Robinson said Sunday. “Plus, he’s scored some big goals in the playoffs, and that’s basically what we’re looking at.”

Ferraro didn’t figure in the scoring Saturday, but he provided a noticeable amount of jump. Robinson put him between Vladimir Tsyplakov and Glen Murray in the first period and later used him between Luc Robitaille and Craig Johnson. Ferraro, displaying the feistiness that has enabled him to overcome a being a small (5-10, 192-pound) man in an increasingly big man’s league, created a couple of good scoring chances but was thwarted by St. Louis goaltender Grant Fuhr, who frustrated the Kings throughout the game.

“When I’m healthy, that’s how I play, or certainly try to play, with a lot of energy,” said Ferraro, who had 25 goals and 46 points last season but was limited this season to six goals and 15 points in 40 games. “Hopefully, I can contribute a little bit offensively. It would be nice for our team to get the lead and play in front for a chance and see how that changes things.”

Ferraro, 33, made his NHL debut with the Hartford Whalers in 1984-85, when King teammate Aki Berg was 8 years old. He had a spectacular spring in 1993, when he scored 13 goals and 20 points to help the New York Islanders reach the Eastern Conference finals, and he has scored 21 playoff goals and 39 points.

He probably won’t have another spring like 1993, but his leadership makes him valuable on a young and still nervous team. He’s a voice of experience and encouragement, which doesn’t appear on the stat sheet.

“You know what to expect as you get older, and you’re not surprised too much by what happens in the playoffs. That’s the biggest difference for me,” he said. “The games are as much fun to play now as they were then. Playoffs are the best.”

Which is why he squirmed in the press box during the series opener. “Everybody wants to play. I certainly want to play,” he said. “I feel that my game is suited to the playoffs and hopefully I can contribute as we try and get back into the series.”

The Kings will need everything Ferraro can contribute tonight. Their best hope of defeating the faster, deeper Blues is in avoiding bad penalties, being cautious defensively and being persistent in the offensive zone. They must go to the net more and create more chances and more pressure on Fuhr, and Ferraro can help increase the offensive tempo.

“The third game is virtually a must game if you’re down, 2-0,” Ferraro said. “We know that and we feel we played pretty well in the second game in St. Louis. We also feel we can play better.

“We know everybody’s written us off, and the broadcasters have written us off. I kind of relish the underdog role, and I think a lot of other guys here do, too. It’s no secret, we’re going to have to play better if we’re going to beat an excellent team like St. Louis.

“I think this team is proud to be in the playoffs and we don’t want to go quickly. We feel we can play better, but you can feel that all you want. You just have to go out and do it.”

If they learn nothing else from Ferraro, the Kings will be well-served to learn that. Do it. You don’t know when you’ll get another chance.