Ferraro’s Comeback Derailed by Knee Surgery

Center Ray Ferraro will have surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.

Ronald Kvitne, the Kings’ team doctor, made the diagnosis Wednesday, the day after Ferraro suffered the injury in a 4-3 win at Edmonton.

Ferraro was coming down the ice on a two-on-one break with Yanic Perreault when the puck hopped over his stick. He pursued it into the corner, where he was hit.

The injury halts Ferraro’s comeback from an injury to his left knee, which cost him most of last season. Ferraro, 34, had begun the season in the stands, scratched for the first two games, then began to work his way up through the lines until his ice time had approached 15 minutes a game.

“It’s just such a damn shame because he’s been playing so well and contributing so much,” Coach Larry Robinson said. “He had been playing before, but didn’t feel like he was contributing because the puck wasn’t going into the net. And he was putting a concentrated effort into coming back.”

It was working.

Ferraro had two goals Saturday in a win over Colorado and one Dec. 30 in a win over San Jose and had also earned time on the Kings’ power play with his work around the net.

His absence could be particularly troublesome for the Kings, who had another center, Ian Laperriere, in the stands at Edmonton because of swelling in an injured knee.

Ferraro’s being sidelined will probably mean more playing time for Perreault, who started the season strong, then went 21 games without scoring and continues to struggle offensively. He has two goals in the last three games, including one Tuesday at Edmonton, perhaps a sign of an offensive resurgence.

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Winger Donald Audette, on playing against his former team, Buffalo, tonight:

“It’s probably going to feel strange because I spent nine seasons with them. I don’t know. I’ve never been traded before.”

Audette, who has three goals and seven points in seven games as a King, was traded Dec. 18 for a second-round draft choice after the Sabres were unable to sign him.

Tonight vs. Buffalo, 7:30

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 14-21-3, Sabres 21-9-5.

* Record vs. Sabres (1997-98)--0-1-1.

* Update--Buffalo plays defense better than anyone in the East, having given up only 71 goals. That begins with goalie Dominik Hasek, who has started 33 of the Sabres’ 34 games, and who has a 1.92 goals-against average and seven shutouts. Left wing Miroslav Satan leads Buffalo in scoring with 17 goals and 30 points. The Kings are 6-10-2 at the Forum, but have won two in a row at home.

* Robitaille report--King left wing Luc Robitaille has 498 goals on his way to becoming the 27th player in NHL history to score 500.