Battle Fatigue Is Setting In

With only three victories in their last 10 games, the Kings are in danger of losing ground before the Olympic break begins Feb. 13. The Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers are all within three points of Los Angeles in the Western Conference standings.

Fatigue may be a critical factor: the Kings have played 53 games so far, two more than any other team in the NHL, and four more than the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

“We just came off back-to-back sets of three games in four nights,” said Coach Andy Murray, noting that his team now has to take on the Ducks twice in three days.

“It’s going to be a playoff-type atmosphere, we’ll just have to battle,” Murray said of facing the cross-town rivals today and Monday night. “They are well coached, they have great players, every game has been a fifty-fifty. You just have to hope your goalie is better than their goalie.”

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As expected, center Eric Belanger has been cleared to play today, his first game since being held out of the lineup for 16 games because of a groin injury suffered Dec. 27 against Phoenix.

Noting that this was his second attempt at returning from the nagging injury, he stressed, “I’m ready this time. I know I’m ready. I know I’m fine. The first time, I just came back too early. It was stupid for me to try to come back. I’ve had a good week of skating with no problems.”

Having Belanger back should help a penalty-killing unit that has surrendered nine power-play goals in the last eight games.

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With top-six forwards Belanger, Pavol Demitra and Jeremy Roenick all returning to the lineup or close to returning, Murray will have decisions to make in filling out the lineup card.

“You know it’s going to be tough, because so many guys have played so hard for us, and allowed us to stay in this thing when most people thought we would be out of it with what happened to us,” Murray said.

The injury bug has had a positive aspect: the Kings have 11 players with 10 or more goals -- tops in the NHL.

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After sitting out 16 games because of back spasms, defenseman Aaron Miller logged more than 21 minutes of ice time against the Oilers Thursday.

“It was tough, but I felt better as the night went on, adrenaline is the most powerful thing going,” Miller said. “I didn’t practice that much with the team, so It’s going to take a couple of games to get back into my timing.”

Demitra is still listed as day to day but skated with the first power play unit in practice Friday.

“We’ll see how it goes,” he said. “It’s just good to be back in red. It’s punishment to put the yellow jersey on.”

The Kings have a policy of having injured players wear yellow during practice sessions.