The Kid Can Go Back to Halifax

To hear Alexey Volkov describe it, he had a slight detour from Halifax, Canada, in his journey to join the Kings as an emergency relief goaltender.

It was probably easier going back Thursday after they acquired goalie Ryan Bach, 25, from Detroit for a conditional choice in the 2000 entry draft.

That made Volkov’s one-game, two-day stay in the NHL almost shorter than his trip to get to the Kings.

Actually, according to his agent, Allan Walsh, it wasn’t that easy.

“He had to go to Toronto for a work permit,” Walsh said of his 18-year-old client, who received a call-up from the Kings at 2 a.m. Monday.

Apparently, the U.S. Consulate in Halifax wasn’t impressed by the faxed work permit papers from the Kings that were to have given Volkov a reason to earn a living in this country. The consulate wasn’t going to allow him to leave.

Government regulations require an original document, so Dave Taylor, the Kings’ general manager and vice president, flew to Toronto with the necessary papers, met Volkov and Walsh and sent the goalie south before turning to some Canadian scouting.

“I was so excited,” said Volkov, who spent part of Thursday in Tampa getting a Social Security number so he can be paid, then the rest of the day packing to go back to Halifax.

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Bach has been playing for Utah in the International Hockey League, and he is 2-1, with a 2.74 goals-against average. He played 43 games for Houston of the IHL last season and was 26-9-6, with a 2.32 goals-against average.

He will be available to back up Manny Legace tonight against Tampa Bay.

TONIGHT at Tampa Bay

4 p.m. PDT

Fox Sports West

Site--Ice Palace, Tampa, Fla.

Radio--KRLA (1110).

Records--Kings 2-1-2, Lightning 1-4-1.

Record vs. Lightning (1997-98)--2-0.

Update--Tampa Bay won its first game since March 30 on Wednesday night, beating Pittsburgh, 5-0, in part by shutting down Jaromir Jagr. The Lightning permitted him only two shots.