Palffy Won’t Return Until Saturday

Originally expected to return to the lineup tonight against the Calgary Flames after sitting out three games because of back spasms, Ziggy Palffy said Wednesday that he will hold off until Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings.

“It’s still fresh and if you’re going to hurt it again, it’s going to be a long time [out of the lineup],” Palffy said. “So wait a couple days and it will be all right.”

Palffy, the Kings’ top scorer last season, resumed practicing Tuesday.

“I feel better,” the winger said after Wednesday’s practice. “Much better.”

Defenseman Aaron Miller, who also returned to practice this week, also will be unavailable for tonight’s game, Coach Andy Murray said. Miller, sidelined since Oct. 20, has sat out seven games because of a sore back.

“That’s the way we’re proceeding,” Murray said. “They’re just back to practicing, and I can’t see them being ready to play.”

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Murray, after reviewing video of Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers, noted that Kings’ television play-by-play announcer Bob Miller had made an on-air plea for Eric Belanger to pick up the scoring pace.

“He heard you and got two goals,” Murray told Miller on Wednesday, noting that Belanger had scored one goal in the Kings’ first 14 games.

Said Miller, laughing: “Anybody you want me to mention [tonight]?”

“As a matter of fact,” Murray said, “I’ve got a list right here.”

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Luc Robitaille’s return to Staples Center on Saturday night with the Red Wings will attract the usual sellout crowd drawn to the Red Wings’ visits to Los Angeles. The game has been sold out for a month.

Though the official Staples Center capacity for hockey is 18,118, the Kings never drew less than 18,360 for five games against the Red Wings last season, among them three playoff games that each drew standing-room-only crowds of 18,478.

TONIGHT

vs. Calgary, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 4-8-1-2, Flames 10-2-0-2.

Record vs. Flames (2000-01)--3-1.

Update--The Kings, who ended a five-game losing streak with their victory over Atlanta on Saturday, are trying to win consecutive games for the first time since May, when they defeated the Colorado Avalanche in Games 5 and 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Tickets--(888) 546-4752.