KINGS NOTEBOOK: BELANGER MAY BE OUT.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Eric Belanger's badly sprained left wrist remains sore and now the Kings' center faces the possibility of surgery that could sideline him until the playoffs.

Belanger, the club's most effective offensive player the past month, was injured Jan. 15 against Nashville. He tested his wrist Wednesday during an early-morning workout at the Kings' training facility and stopped early due to pain.

He was examined by club hand specialist Norman Zemel, who said the wrist was not reinjured. But the Kings have a shrinking window to make a decision on surgery due to the postseason, which opens in mid-April.

If they wait too long, the eight-week recovery time will cut into the first round of the playoffs. A decision could come Monday.

``It's a difficult situation and probably pretty frustrating for Eric,'' Kings GM Dave Taylor said. ``If it's a situation that doesn't look like Eric can come back and play, he will need surgery. It's a pretty extensive rehabilitation. Surgery is a last resort. We would like to wait until Monday and see if he is making progress.''

In the past 11 months, the Kings have been hit hard by wrist injuries.

Last summer, winger Adam Deadmarsh underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his wrist. Deadmarsh missed all of training camp and an orientation camp for the U.S. Olympic team.

Shortly after he came over from Colorado in the Feb. 21 Rob Blake deal, defenseman Aaron Miller injured his left wrist and missed several weeks. He still was in pain during the Kings' first-round victory over Detroit but played all seven games.

--Schneider getting better: In Monday's 4-2 victory in Anaheim, Kings defenseman Mathieu Schneider recorded just his second point since returning from abdominal surgery Jan. 2.

``I actually started to feel better in the second half of the previous game,'' said Schneider, who was leading the Kings in scoring when he was sidelined in early November. ``We played 10 games in 21 days since I got back and there hasn't been a lot of chances to build up strength. One thing that has helped is that the team is winning. The mood in the room is better and there isn't added pressure. You put enough of that on yourself.''

Although Schneider is known mostly for his offensive skill, Kings coach Andy Murray said his physical presence also has been missed.

``Hitting is more about strategy and positioning on the ice than what your size is.'' said Schneider, who is listed at 6-foot, 204 pounds. ``I am not going to bowl anyone over, but there is a lot I can do.''

--Quick whistles: Left-winger Ryan Flinn is expected to make his NHL debut tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Flinn, who has spent the season at minor-league Manchester (N.H.), is a tough guy who caught the team's attention last September by getting into a fight with young enforcer Kip Brennan during the first minute of training camp. Brennan recently made his NHL debut but was sent back to Manchester. Murray said Ken Belanger, the Kings' opening-day enforcer who is out with a broken left thumb, could miss another month. ... Brad Chartrand will remain at Belanger's center spot on the third line.

KINGS vs. MINNESOTA

Time: 7:30 p.m., at Staples Center.

TV/Radio: No TV; 1110-AM.

Matchup: For the third time during the Kings' (22-18-7-2) recent stretch at home, they are facing a team that played the Mighty Ducks the night before. This is the third meeting between the Kings and the surprising Wild, which won here convincingly in the second game of the season. The Kings came back and beat the Wild on Nov. 18. Second-year Minnesota is led by Martin Gaborik, who has 17 goals and 43 points in 45 games. Gaborik is one of two Slovaks on the Wild. So far the club has not released them to play in the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament. Felix Potvin will start tonight in net for the Kings.

- Matt McHale

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KINGS vs. MINNESOTA (see text)