Goaltenders Bring Limited Experience

The Kings are taking a relaxed approach regarding their goaltending situation.

Mathieu Garon is a talented 27-year-old who played solidly for Manchester in the American Hockey League last season. But he also has only 43 NHL games on his resume and regressed during the AHL playoffs a year ago.

His backup is 25-year-old Jason LaBarbera, a free agent who was the top goalie for the New York Rangers’ AHL team last season but has played in only five NHL games.

But Coach Andy Murray’s concerns are limited. Asked if he were troubled by his goalies’ lack of experience, he joked, “Only if they don’t play good.”

“Right now, I’m optimistic they’re going to play well,” Murray said. “If you thought too much about it, you might not get much sleep. We like Garon because we think he can get the job done.”

Garon ranked 10th in the AHL with a 2.12 goals-against average in 52 games with Manchester. That number jumped to 3.58 in the playoffs, when the Monarchs were eliminated in the first round.

Still, Murray’s directive is simple.

“All I want from them is [that] they stop the puck,” he said. “They both handle the puck well and that can help with the new rules, especially on the penalty kill. But just don’t let it in [the net].”

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Murray has already noticed a big difference in the Kings from the team that last played in 2003-04.

Namely, it’s in the personnel with the return of such players as Alexander Frolov, Michael Cammalleri, Dustin Brown, Luc Robitaille and Derek Armstrong along with the addition of veterans Jeremy Roenick, Craig Conroy, Pavol Demitra and Valeri Bure.

“We can play all nine of those guys in power-play situations,” said Murray, lamenting that in 2003-04 his options were limited to Armstrong, Robitaille and Trent Klatt. “ ... After that I’d look down the bench and it was [Brad] Chartrand.”

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Center Sean Avery sat out Wednesday’s practice because of a virus in his left eye. He is expected to return to practice today.... Right wing Lauri Tukonen practiced for the first time Wednesday after being delayed in Finland because of visa problems.