KINGS DON'T GIVE IT THEIR BEST PALFFY'S ABSENCE OBVIOUS IN LOSS TO NEW JERSEY NEW JERSEY 4, KINGS 0.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Whether it was Roman Cechmanek or Cristobal Huet in net, the Kings didn't stand much of a chance without Ziggy Palffy.

The New Jersey Devils not only are Stanley Cup champions, they have the stingiest defense in the NHL. Minus the high-scoring Palffy, who was out with a bruised jaw, the Kings predictably lost 4-0 Tuesday night in front of 17,067 at Staples Center.

``It's disappointing, but we've been playing well,'' captain Mattias Norstrom said. ``We'll get Ziggy back and keep moving.''

Huet played his second consecutive game in place of Cechmanek, who has been erratic as the Kings' No. 1 goaltender.

Saturday, Huet shut out the Colorado Avalanche as the Kings (10-8-1-1) moved into first place in the Pacific Division. Tuesday, they kept that lead despite allowing power-play goals to John Madden and Scott Niedermayer.

Sergei Brylin and Patrik Elias also scored.

The Kings had 25 shots against Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who recorded his fourth shutout of the year and 68th of his career.

Huet won Saturday after the Avs came in 7-0-1-1 in their previous nine games. But the Devils have been even hotter, going 10-0-2-0 since Oct. 25.

``There is no goaltending controversy here,'' said Kings coach Andy Murray, who added he expects Cechmanek to still play 60 games this season. ``We simply wanted to stay with the hot hand. If we could beat Colorado on the road, I think we could beat New Jersey at home.''

But the Devils, who play the Mighty Ducks tonight in a rematch of last spring's Stanley Cup Finals, were far more physical than the Avs. They not only put traffic in front of Huet, they were punishing in the corners.

And on the night Devils captain Scott Stevens tied Larry Murphy for most career games by a defenseman (1,615), New Jersey played its usual smothering defense to remain the NHL's only unbeaten team on the road (5-0-2-0).

``For the most part they didn't get too many rebound shots and odd-man rushes,'' Brodeur said.

Early in the second period, Niedermayer whacked center Eric Belanger into the boards. Belanger remained on the ice for a couple of minutes surrounded by blood.

But despite objections from Murray, Niedermayer was not whistled for a penalty. The crowd started booing at that point. By the end of the game they were booing the Kings.

Belanger lost a tooth but returned. But when Belanger was in the trainer's room getting stitched up, the Kings were without their top four centers. Jason Allison (whiplash), Jozef Stumpel (bruised chest) and Derek Armstrong (broken finger) already aren't playing.

Kings winger Sean Avery tried to avenge the hit later in the second period by hitting Niedermayer. Avery got two minutes for high sticking and Niedermayer received two minutes for roughing.

Three minutes later, with Aaron Miller off for delay of game, Niedermayer scored the Devils' third goal.

It is uncertain how much of a difference Palffy, the league's third-leading scorer, could have made.

But it was clear from the outset the Kings couldn't keep up without him.

New Jersey, which has allowed more than three goals just once this season, first scored at 18:03 of the first period.

After Mike Cammalleri went off for obstruction, Madden took advantage of a screen by Miller and scored on a 20-foot slapper.

Brylin got the Devils' second goal just 22 seconds into the second period.

The Kings entered the game having killed off 18 consecutive power plays and added two more in the first. But after Madden's early power-play goal, the streak ended.

Late in the second, Niedermayer returned to the ice after his tussle with Avery and found himself with an excellent scoring chance after Miller went off.

Niedermayer moved in front of the Kings' net untouched then redirected a slap shot from Brian Rafalski at 19:16.

The Kings claimed Niedermayer interfered with Huet but those calls weren't being made Tuesday night.

``It was a tough game for us but we put a great effort tonight,'' said Huet, who is not expected to play Thursday in Phoenix. ``We had a chance to come back in the game, but this team is very good. They beat us tonight.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) New Jersey's Scott Niedermayer (27) watches as John Madden's shot gets past Kings goalie Cristobal Huet in the first period.

(2) Kings defenseman Aaron Miller, right, loses his helmet after a collision with New Jersey's David Hale in front of the Kings' bench. The Devils remained undefeated on the road.

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press