Palffy Plays Like MVP; Kings Lose

He has scored more goals in other years and accumulated more points too, but Ziggy Palffy of the Kings might never have enjoyed a better season than the one that wraps up Sunday at Vancouver.

While injuries derailed the club’s playoff hopes and robbed Palffy of his most talented linemates, the Slovak winger kept the Kings competitive.

So when it was announced this week that L.A. media had voted him the Kings’ most valuable player, the only surprise was that it wasn’t unanimous.

Who else is there?

Including a goal in Friday night’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames in front of 17,003 in the Pengrowth Saddledome, Palffy leads the Kings with 37 goals, 48 assists, 85 points and a plus-22 rating.

Nobody else on the team has scored even half as many points.

“I think I had a good season,” said Palffy, whose effort Friday wasn’t enough to carry the Kings to their third consecutive victory, the Flames winning on a goal by Craig Conroy at 2:13 of overtime. “I tried to work and concentrate on my game. For my teammates, I have to be accountable ... and try to step up and help.

“The guys coming from the minor leagues, they’re looking for the older players, the better players, to step up and show them how to play.”

For the Kings, however, the season has been a disappointment.

And Palffy, who will turn 31 on May 5, was upset last month when the club traded veterans Mathieu Schneider and Bryan Smolinski, expressing second thoughts about pursuing a long-term contract extension with the club this summer.

He said Friday that he still found it “hard to understand” why the moves were made, but added, “I want to stay here. I want to be part of this team.”

His future with the Kings could be secured this summer, when the club will exercise the $7-million option on his contract for next season and probably will try to sign its most electrifying player to a long-term deal. Of more immediate concern to Palffy are the World Championships starting April 26 at Finland.

Slovakia won the title last year.