Palffy on Injured Reserve

On further review, the Kings decided that Ziggy Palffy’s hamstring injury was more serious than first believed, and on Wednesday they put him on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 17.

When Palffy was injured in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay, he was tied with the New York Rangers’ Theo Fleury for the NHL goal lead with 21 and was second in points with 46. He is not on the Kings’ two-game trip, which begins with a meeting with Colorado tonight and continues Friday at Minnesota.

“I tried to skate and couldn’t put my weight on it,” he said. “I hope we have a good road trip and get some points. I hope I can get back after Christmas.”

The Kings play San Jose at Staples Center on Tuesday.

The right hamstring is being called “strained” by the Kings’ team physician, Ronald Kvitne, and Palffy’s condition is being called “week to week.”

That in itself indicates a seriousness that wasn’t previously perceived. When goalie Stephane Fiset was called “week to week,” he was out almost three months. Glen Murray is called “week to week,” and he has been out a month now and isn’t expected back in the lineup until the new year.

Strangely, the loss of Palffy hasn’t hurt the Kings offensively. They scored six goals Tuesday night, but lost, 7-6, to Atlanta.

But it is expected to hurt in the longer term, because they are embarking on what is expected to be the toughest portion of their schedule this season, with two games at Colorado, and games at St. Louis, Dallas and Detroit over the next two weeks.

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Palffy’s line mate, center Jozef Stumpel, is saying now that he wants to try to play tonight against the Avalanche.

Stumpel, who suffered a broken little toe on his left foot, has been sent to several doctors, all of whom say numbing the digit would not harm it and would allow him to play.

He apparently is going to try to play without “freezing,” and could center a line with Bryan Smolinski and Luc Robitaille. Smolinski would move from left wing to the right, in effect taking Palffy’s place and deferring to Robitaille.

But even that issue was in doubt on Wednesday when Robitaille was considered too ill with flu to practice.

TONIGHT

at Colorado, 6 PST, Fox Sports Net

* Site--Pepsi Center, Denver.

* Radio--KSPN (1110).

* Records--Kings 15-10-7-1, Avalanche 21-7-5-0.

* Record vs. Avalanche--1-0.

* Update--After moving through the league at a pace that threatened records for victories, the Avalanche is suddenly on hard times, going 0-2-2 in its last four games. The losses were at Detroit, believable enough, but also at home against Calgary, which rankled. The Kings are 4-1 in their last five games against the Avalanche, and starting goalie Jamie Storr is 4-0-1 against Colorado.