BATTLE FOR GOALIE SPOT NHL: KINGS 7, DUCKS 1.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND  Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- Competition is at the essence of sports, so it doesn't bother Jason LaBarbera that he's competing with Mathieu Garon for the No. 2 goaltender spot on the Kings' roster.

``It doesn't matter where you are; there's always going to be competition,'' LaBarbera said Monday, before the Kings beat the Ducks 7-1 in the preseason opener at the Pond.

These stakes are a bit higher. By the time the Kings open their season Oct. 6, either Garon or LaBarbera will be the backup goalie and the other will have been traded, likely to become another team's backup.

Garon and LaBarbera were co-No. 1 goalies for much of last season, but the summer acquisition of Dan Cloutier left the Kings with a glut of goalies. Barring injury, one will have to move on, via trade.

After four days of training-camp practices, Monday night provided the first real chance for Garon and LaBarbera to impress new general manager Dean Lombardi and coach Marc Crawford. Garon and LaBarbera split time in the game and both goalies fared well in 30 minutes of work.

Garon started the game and stopped 13 of 14 shots, while LaBarbera stopped all 10 shots he faced.

Last season, the Kings rotated Garon and LaBarbera early in the season. Garon (3.22 goals-against average in 63 games) received more playing time than LaBarbera (2.89 in 29 games) but neither goalie ever took firm hold of the No. 1 position, which led Lombardi to acquire Cloutier.

All things being equal, trading Garon makes more financial sense, since he makes $1.216 million this season compared with LaBarbera's $775,000, but Crawford seemed to indicate an early preference for Garon.

``Mathieu has really risen to the challenge and that's good. There's a real depth of character there,'' Crawford said. ``We're got three weeks to make a decision. It will resolve itself.''

Kings win: Kevin Dallman had two goals and two assists; Sean Avery, Matt Moulson, Brian Willsie and Konstantin Pushkarev each had a goal and an assist; and Derek Armstrong had three assists.

Avery recorded the game's first penalty, a hook 2:12 into the first period, its first goal, six minutes later, and also got into scuffles with the Ducks' Sean O'Donnell and Karl Stewart.

Ducks goalie, and playoff hero, Ilya Bryzgalov, played 30 minutes and stopped 13 of 17 shots.

His turn: Cloutier will start in goal in tonight's exhibition game against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center and will split time with Jonathan Bernier, the team's first-round draft pick.

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