Injuries Limit Team’s Options

While what was left of the Kings practiced Monday with assistant coaches Mark Hardy, Dave Tippett and Ray Bennett, Coach Andy Murray and Dave Taylor, the team’s senior vice president and general manager, huddled to determine who would play tonight against the Atlanta Thrashers.

Much of that depended on who was able to play.

Winger Ziggy Palffy will not, Murray said, and he didn’t expect center Jozef Stumpel to play either.

Palffy’s strained hamstring, which seemed improved on Sunday, a day after the injury, regressed Monday. Stumpel still has a broken toe, though he said Monday he might come around to the idea of freezing the digit and playing tonight.

Murray listed some options.

“We might go back to the ‘college’ line,” he said of rejoining Jason Blake, Nelson Emerson and Steve Reinprecht, college veterans all.

“And . . . “

Murray went on, but by day’s end the remedy appeared to be right wing Scott Thomas, summoned from Manitoba of the International Hockey League to start on a line with center Eric Belanger and winger Bryan Smolinski.

With winger Glen Murray also sidelined because of a knee injury, the Kings are without three of their top six forwards with the immediate schedule their most difficult part of the season. After tonight’s game, there are two at Colorado and one each at Detroit, St. Louis and Dallas before Jan. 3.

Thomas, a 30-year-old veteran who has spent most of his career in the IHL, had nine goals and 12 assists in 19 games for Manitoba.

A roster move is necessary to add Thomas, with several options, including moving Stumpel to injured reserve or sending down defenseman Andreas Lilja.

*

After a bad game in a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, goalie Stephane Fiset returns for the Kings tonight.

“It’s the idea of coming back with a guy when he has a bad outing,” Murray said of the decision.

Defenseman Jere Karalahti, sidelined since Nov. 28 because of a foot injury, returns tonight in tandem with Aki Berg, with Jaroslav Modry sitting.

TONIGHT

vs. Atlanta, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KSPN (1110).

* Records--Kings 15-10-7, Thrashers 11-13-6-1.

* Record vs. Thrashers--1-0.

* Update--Paradoxically, offensively challenged Atlanta has five hat tricks this season, two by former King winger Donald Audette. He leads the Thrashers with 14 goals and 38 points in 30 games, and center Ray Ferraro--another former King and a hat-trick performer this season as well--has 14 goals and 32 points. Linemate Andrew Brunette, has 28 points in 31 games.

* Tickets--(888) 546-4752.