Penalty-Killing Part of Their Game

The Kings have killed 11 of 12 penalties in their first two games, ahead of their pace from last season, when they killed 86.6% to rank third in the NHL.

“Probably the way we play, we’d better be prepared to kill five or six a game,” Coach Andy Murray said. “We play hard, and I think we’re going to take some penalties because of how hard we play.

“Six is probably too many, but if we’re going through the game with one or two penalties, we probably haven’t played hard enough.”

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Ziggy Palffy, whose salary jumped from $6 million last season to $7.25 million this season, remains the Kings’ highest-paid player.

Ten other Kings will make at least $1 million this season: Jason Allison, $5.5 million; Felix Potvin, $3.55 million; Mathieu Schneider, $3.5 million; Adam Deadmarsh, $3 million; Mattias Norstrom, $2.5 million; Bryan Smolinski, $2.3 million; Aaron Miller, $1.7 million; Jamie Storr, $1.595 million; Erik Rasmussen, $1.1 million; and rookie Alexander Frolov, $1.075 million.

Steve Heinze, playing in the minors, is guaranteed $2 million.

The lowest-paid King is Jaroslav Bednar, who will make $330,000.

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Palffy, sidelined for the last few minutes of Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings after suffering a strained groin, was treated Sunday and is expected to play Wednesday night against the Mighty Ducks at the Arrowhead Pond, Murray said.... In their last eight meetings with the Red Wings at Staples Center, the Kings have outscored Detroit, 26-15, while posting a 7-0-1 record.... Miller, sidelined until early November after abdominal surgery last month, will begin skating with his teammates this week.... Including three playoff games against the Colorado Avalanche last April, the Kings have drawn 14 consecutive sellout crowds to Staples Center. Thursday night’s game against the Avalanche will make it 15.