Injury Again Sidelines Palffy

Ziggy Palffy, his strained left groin bothering him again, sat out Friday night’s game against the New York Rangers.

Palffy was sidelined for three games after suffering the injury Oct. 12 but returned to the lineup Wednesday night and played nearly 23 minutes against the Detroit Red Wings. He had an assist and led the Kings with five shots on goal in a 3-3 tie.

But the Slovak winger left the ice only a few minutes into Friday’s morning skate at Madison Square Garden, retreating to the trainer’s room.

“His groin is a little tender,” Coach Andy Murray said.

Palffy’s status for Sunday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Columbus, Ohio, was uncertain.

“We’d like to have him in our lineup,” Murray said. “It will just take its course and when he’s ready to play, he’ll play for us. That’s just the way it is. You get injured players during the year.”

Derek Armstrong, acquired by the Kings in a July trade that sent a conditional 2003 draft pick to the Rangers, replaced Palffy in Friday’s lineup. Armstrong, 29, played in only seven NHL games in three seasons with the Rangers before trying to force a trade by playing in Switzerland last season.

He started the season in the minors but scored a goal in a 2-2 tie with the Vancouver Canucks last Saturday, his first NHL goal since the 1997-98 season.

“I take it day by day up here,” he said. “If they tell me to clean the toilets, I’ll clean the toilets.”

--Jerry Crowe