KINGS NOTEBOOK: BROWN BECOMES A QUICK STUDY.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Kings forward Dustin Brown turned 21 just four days ago, a fact that's easy to forget given the high level of his play and the ferocity of his on-ice hits.

Brown's learning curve has been steep in this, his first season as a full-time NHL player. Brown rebounded from his worst game of the season with four strong efforts, and Brown ranked highly when coach Andy Murray posted a list that ranked the top offensive contributors in the Kings' last five games.

In the Kings' 5-4 loss to San Jose on Oct. 28, Brown took four penalties, including a hooking call with 1:36 left that led to the game-winning power play goal. Since then, however, Brown has taken just one penalty in his last four games and ranked second on the team in scoring chances created during that span.

``The one game I had, I can't even remember how many penalties I took,'' Brown said, ``but since then it's been better. I just have to keep my feet moving to stay out of penalty situations. If I'm going to take a penalty, I want it to be because I ran a guy through the boards.''

Brown, who played 31 games in 2003-04, also is learning about the subjective nature of NHL officiating, in which one referee might call a penalty on a play that other referees will let go.

``Every time I get on the ice I look and see who the refs are,'' Brown said. ``You have to scout them, just like you scout the other team. Some guys call the game pretty tight.''

--Stay tuned: Murray said he has yet to decide who will start in goal Wednesday against Detroit but did say he expects that both goalies will play during the four-game road trip.

Jason LaBarbera has started the last four games. Mathieu Garon last started on Oct. 28 when he was pulled in the second period, but played the third period last Thursday after LaBarbera was pulled.

--Injury report: Derek Armstrong, who has missed the last five games with a groin strain, completed a third day of skating without problem and is expected to play Wednesday.

``It looks promising,'' Murray said. ``We'll have to see how he is (today).''

If Armstrong is able to return, the Kings would put defenseman Mike Weaver on injured reserve. Weaver suffered a hairline fracture in his lower leg when he was hit by a shot in practice last week. The Kings thought Weaver might be able to continue playing, but Weaver hasn't made much progress.

The same goes for Valeri Bure, who has been out since Sept. 29 with back soreness. Murray said doctors don't consider surgery to be an option for Bure ``right now'' but said little progress is being made.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

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DUSTIN BROWN

Kings forward has taken just one penalty in his last four games.