KINGS NOTEBOOK: AND THEN THERE WAS A NO. 1.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO -- The Kings' goaltending merry-go-round might be coming to a stop.

Coach Andy Murray insinuated Monday that he is on the verge of designating a No. 1 goalie after alternating Mathieu Garon and Jason LaBarbera for the first 12 games. If that happens, the Kings almost certainly would turn to LaBarbera, who has a 1.70 goals-against average compared to Garon's 3.43.

Wednesday's game against Dallas would be Garon's turn in the alternating system, but Murray would not commit to Garon and cryptically said, ``We're giving that some thought.''

``We're giving the whole situation some thought,'' Murray said. ``I think there's no doubt that Jason has been stronger. I feel that we've yet to see the best from Mathieu and we'd like to.''

Murray also indicated that the Kings' back-to-back games, including Thursday in Phoenix, wouldn't necessarily mean that the goalies would split those two games, as they did in the season's first month.

The Kings traded for Garon after the 2003-04 season and strongly inferred that he would be their No. 1 goalie. But the Kings, impressed by LaBarbera's efforts in the American Hockey League last season, signed him in August and became increasingly impressed throughout training camp.

Garon faced tougher competition throughout the first month, but the turning point might have come Friday, when Murray pulled Garon from the game in the second period.

LaBarbera remained on a even keel about the situation. The 25-year-old rookie entered this season with five games of NHL experience but is 6-0 as a starting goalie this season.

``I have no idea,'' LaBarbera said when asked if he thought he had done enough to be named starter. ``I've played pretty well, I think, but I have no idea what Andy is going to do.

``I don't really look at it like a competition. We're both in an unusual position in that we both have a lot to prove, but I think things have been good for me so far.''

--So far, so good: Jeremy Roenick, who unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against referees after the Kings' loss to San Jose on Friday, said he has yet to receive any word about a fine from the league.

``(Kings governor) Tim Leiweke told me they were looking into it, but I haven't heard anything,'' said Roenick, who was upset about a non-call late in the game, which the Kings lost with 3.7 seconds left. Roenick called the sequence ``a joke'' and said ``referees shouldn't decide the game.''

Roenick's comments were relatively tame, but figured to draw attention from the league because Mighty Ducks coach Randy Carlyle and Toronto coach Pat Quinn were fined last week for critical comments.

--Injury report: Derek Armstrong tested his sore groin in a skating session before Monday's practice but is unlikely to make the road trip for games Wednesday and Thursday.