It Looks Like Fiset May Be Ready Soon

No decision has been made on King goaltender Stephane Fiset, sidelined since Oct. 18 because of a strained groin, but there is an indication that he will back up Manny Legace tonight against the New York Islanders.

And Fiset may be available to start Wednesday night at New Jersey in the second game of a two-games-in-two-nights spurt that finishes the Kings’ first Eastern trip of the season.

Fiset has played in three games and has missed the last three because of the injury. He is 2-0 and has given up five goals.

Legace is 1-0-1 since being summoned from Long Beach when Fiset and Jamie Storr were sidelined in the same game.

*

Ray Ferraro has already talked about retiring after the season, but he wants it to be his choice.

And Ferraro wants Coach Larry Robinson to have no choice but to play him.

“I don’t want to sit around and watch games,” Ferraro said. “That’s not what I came for.”

Ferraro’s role with the Kings was made clear to him before the season started and was reinforced when he sat and watched the first two games from the press box. He was going to provide depth.

In the last two games, however, he has provided points, scoring at Tampa Bay and setting up Luc Robitaille for a goal Sunday night at Carolina.

Ferraro’s playing time has come largely courtesy of Jozef Stumpel, who has been nursing a hip injury.

“I really look at [these as big games] in my career,” said Ferraro, in his 15th NHL season. “Stumpel will be back, maybe next game, and I don’t want to come out of the lineup.”

*

The Kings killed off four more penalties Sunday night, giving them 38 kills in 39 penalties in their seven games, tops in the NHL. They have killed 28 consecutive penalties.

Tonight

vs. N.Y. Islanders

4:30 p.m., Fox Sports West

Site--Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y.

Radio--KRLA (1110).

Records--Kings 3-2-2, Islanders 3-4-0.

Record vs. Islanders (1997-98)--1-1.

Update--The Islanders were 5-4 winners over Buffalo on Saturday, Claude Lapointe’s second goal of the game, with 40 seconds to play, deciding it. Goalie Tommy Salo has two shutouts and a 2.44 goals-against average. The Kings had only one power-play opportunity on Sunday at Carolina and continue to struggle when they have the advantage. They have only three goals in 30 chances.