KINGS

General Manager Dave Taylor called AWOL defenseman Aki Berg in Finland and let him know that he is wanted, but on certain terms.

“I just explained our position to him,” Taylor said.

Berg has rejected a $595,000 contract from the Kings and has played two games for TPS, a Finnish team, under a deal that would allow him to return to Los Angeles if he signs by Sept. 30. Under league rules, Berg can return any time, but if he plays for TPS after the NHL opener, Oct. 10, he has to go through waivers.

Taylor said that Berg seemed to understand the situation--he earned more than $800,000 last season, with more than $330,000 of that a prorated signing bonus--but that no real progress was made toward getting the sides together.

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Left wing Matt Johnson, a late signee, played in his first game. Johnson, the King enforcer, fought twice in the first period, the fisticuffs equally spread between Duck enforcers Stu Grimson and Jim McKenzie. Johnson drew nine minutes in penalties, including two for charging, two for roughing and five minutes for squaring off with Grimson. He added another fight, this time with Jeremy Stevenson, and another five-minute penalty in the second period.