Fiset to Miss Another Game

The Kings can only be thinking, “What next?”

On Saturday, it was word that Jozef Stumpel would not play for the next 10 weeks or so because of a sports hernia.

On Tuesday, it was word that goalie Stephane Fiset would not play against Edmonton because he had bruised his hand when he took a shot off his blocker during pregame warmups.

“It would be better to know these things a little earlier,” Coach Andy Murray said wryly Wednesday.

They do know now that Fiset won’t play tonight. Jamie Storr will get his second consecutive start and will be backed up by Marcel Cousineau, called up from Long Beach.

*

King center Ian Laperriere has two strikes against him under the NHL’s three-strikes-and-you’re-suspended rule concerning instigating fights. Laperriere was hit with an instigator penalty Tuesday night when he tangled with Edmonton’s Jason Smith, who had hammered the Kings’ Ziggy Palffy. Laperriere also was assessed an instigator penalty at Chicago for a flap with Bryan McCabe, who also had hit Palffy.

The Kings appealed the Tuesday penalty, saying Smith had already dropped his gloves before the scrap, but the appeal was denied.

A third instigator penalty this season would cost Laperriere a one-game suspension.

TONIGHT

vs. Colorado, 7:30

Fox Sports West

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 9-4-4, Avalanche 7-6-2-1.

* Record vs. Avalanche (1998-99)--1-3-1.

* Update--Colorado is getting scoring aplenty from Joe Sakic and Adam Deadmarsh. Sakic has points in his last six games (two goals, five assists). Deadmarsh also has a six-game streak.

* Tickets--(888) 546-4752.