More Changes Could Be Coming

With four games left and the Kings’ playoff chances dangling at the end of a long mathematical string, the main intrigue for tonight’s game against the Colorado Avalanche centers on which players take the ice and which ones don’t.

Coach Andy Murray delivered on his promise to bench players for Saturday’s game against the Calgary Flames, regardless of skill and experience, a move that somewhat paid off with the Kings’ best effort in almost two weeks.

Left wing Alexander Frolov, who leads the team with 24 goals, and defenseman Jaroslav Modry, who has a team-high plus-12 rating, were both spectators for the Kings’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Flames. Martin Straka, who has one assist in 10 games since coming back from surgery on both knees, also was a healthy scratch.

Sean Avery and Jeff Cowan helped increase the energy level Saturday, but the Kings lost a seventh consecutive game for the first time since 1987.

The Kings haven’t lost eight consecutive games since a similar losing streak near the end of the 1983-84 season.

Though the Kings are not officially eliminated, they trail the Edmonton Oilers by seven points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Kings will not win any tiebreakers, so they must win their last four games -- all against playoff contenders -- while the Oilers must lose their final three in regulation.

“It’s disappointing because you’ve gone so hard until the last 10 games,” Avery said. “I think guys that have pride in themselves are going to step up and play hard the rest of the way. That’s what either makes you a winner or not a winner. The easiest thing to do is quit.”

With the playoffs now a longshot, the Kings must decide whether to keep the same veterans on the bench against the Avalanche.

“Yeah, no question,” said Avery, who had a goal and an assist against the Flames. “I think it was pretty evident watching [Saturday’s] game and watching our game in Edmonton the other night. Obviously there’s a pretty big difference. This lineup did that.”

Murray declined to disclose what changes, if any, he would make, although he will have some options because defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, sidelined because of flu-like symptoms, and forward Ian Laperriere, out because of a bruised wrist, could be back. Center Jozef Stumpel, who left Saturday’s game with what the Kings are calling an “upper-body injury,” could also return.

TONIGHT

at Colorado, 6 PST,

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Pepsi Center, Denver.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 28-26-16-8, Avalanche 38-22-13-5.

Record vs. Avalanche -- 1-0-2-0.

Update -- The Avalanche, a threat to win the West two weeks ago, could tumble to fifth in the conference if there isn’t rapid improvement. Colorado’s offense, a strong point most of the season, has vanished: The Avalanche has scored only seven goals in a 0-5-1 slump. Colorado was swept by the Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 and 2-0.