Avery to Go to Funeral

King left wing Sean Avery, who lived with Atlanta Thrasher center Dan Snyder for two years while they played junior hockey in Canada, is not expected to play tonight at Pittsburgh because he will be at Snyder’s funeral today in Elmira, Canada.

Snyder died Sunday from brain injuries six days after he and Thrasher teammate Dany Heatley crashed into a brick wall while going about 80 mph on a suburban Atlanta road in Heatley’s Ferrari.

Avery, 23, played in Thursday’s game at Detroit and drove afterward to Elmira with former junior-hockey teammates. Avery and Snyder played together for Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League from 1996-98.

“Once I get to the funeral [today], it’ll probably hit me and I’ll be pretty upset when I see the guys we used to play with,” Avery said. “It’ll be good to go and pay respects and try to move on from it. I feel more emotion for his family and for Dany Heatley than anybody.”

Heatley sustained a broken jaw and torn ligaments in his right knee and has been charged with vehicular homicide, which could carry a sentence of three to 15 years if he is convicted.

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Dustin Brown wasn’t sure he’d make it this far. Few 18-year-olds do in their first season.

But the Kings’ first-round selection in the June draft had a sharp preseason and signed a three-deal, $3.72-million deal. As further reward, Brown will play in front of friends and family in his second NHL game tonight in Pittsburgh.

His pregame advice to those making the five-hour drive from his hometown of Ithaca, N.Y.: Don’t expect too much schmooze time.

“I probably get to talk to them for maybe a few minutes after the game, but I don’t want to change any pregame [routines] or anything like that,” Brown said.

Brown, who scored a team-high four goals in the exhibition season, said he looked forward to playing in the same game as Penguin center Mario Lemieux.

“It’ll be a bit like when I played against [Colorado Avalanche center Joe] Sakic in the preseason,” Brown said. “I grew up watching them play, so from that standpoint it’s a bit awkward, especially with Lemieux. He’s Lemieux.... It makes it that much more exciting.”

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Pittsburgh rookie Marc-Andre Fleury will be among the youngest goalies to start a game in NHL history. Fleury, 18, was the top selection in the June draft. He made an immediate impression on Lemieux and lived with the Penguin player-owner during training camp.

After a brief holdout, Fleury signed with the Penguins and is being hailed as the Penguins’ future cornerstone.

The youngest goaltender to start an NHL game was 17-year-old Harry Lumley for Detroit in 1943.

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TONIGHT

at Pittsburgh, 4:30 PDT,

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Mellon Arena.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records (2002-03) -- Kings 33-37-6-6, Penguins 27-44-6-5.

Record vs. Penguins (2002-03) -- 2-0.

Update -- The Kings haven’t lost to Pittsburgh since the 1998-99 season, going 6-0-1 since then. There will be few threats on the financially strapped Penguins other than Lemieux and left wing Martin Straka, although the Penguins appear to have found a winner with Fleury. Rookie Pittsburgh Coach Eddie Olczyk was a forward for the Kings in the 1996-97 season.