KINGS NOTEBOOK: FOR KINGS, SEASON NOW A BEST-OF-SEVEN.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - The end of the regular season is about two weeks away, but Kings coach Andy Murray said the time for his team to show playoff intensity begins with tonight's home game against Vancouver.

The Kings have seven games remaining, and a strong finish could carry them all the way to second place in the Western Conference, but if the Kings don't right themselves after their poor road trip last week, there won't be a postseason to worry about.

``We've got a seven-game series coming up that we need to win,'' Murray said Monday. ``If you want to say the first-round starts (today), you can say that, because we're playing a seven-game series, and if we win that series, we'll move on to the next series, so there's a potential five playoff rounds for us this year.''

It won't be an easy road. Vancouver is two points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, and just three points behind the Kings, who also host conference-leading Detroit on Thursday and surging Edmonton on Saturday.

The Canucks have not defeated the Kings in Los Angeles since 1996, but last Tuesday the Kings lost 4-0 in Vancouver.

``I think we have to refuse to be outworked,'' Murray said. ``Vancouver is a very hard-working team, a very determined team, and you've got a choice to make. Either you battle with them, as we've done so much this year, and work as hard as they do, or you get what you got in Vancouver and that wasn't very pretty.''

--Good news, bad news: Eric Belanger, out of the Kings' lineup since Jan. 15 after undergoing wrist surgery, will play tonight, but Aaron Miller, who suffered a rib strain Saturday against Calgary, is questionable.

Miller's status will be determined this morning and if he is unable to play, the Kings would activate Jason Holland, but Murray said he will see how much Belanger can take in his first game back.

``I'll tell you after the game whether it's going to be a slow process or not,'' Murray said. ``You put a player in the lineup, you expect him to play. It's hard to know if his timing is off a little bit, and the only way we're going to find out is by playing him.''

Defenseman Philippe Boucher also missed Monday's practice with a sore ankle, but Murray said he expects Boucher to play tonight.

--Penalties kill: Part of the Kings' problem on their 0-3-1 road trip was poor play on the penalty kill, even though the Kings are the league's best team in that category.

On the four-game trip, the Kings allowed seven goals on 27 power-play chances. In the six-game winning streak that proceeded the road trip, Kings opponents scored three goals on 26 power-play chances.

``What comes first, you're a little frustrated with your play and you take penalties, or you take penalties and you become a little frustrated with your play?'' Murray said.

KINGS vs. VANCOUVER

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

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 1110-AM.

Matchup: The Canucks entered Monday alone in ninth place in the Western Conference, although Dallas could have pulled into a tie for that spot with a victory over Columbus. Vancouver has pulled back into the playoff race with victories in eight of its last 10 games, including a 4-0 home victory over the Kings last Tuesday. Markus Naslund leads the Canucks with 33 goals and 44 assists in 75 games.

- Rich Hammond

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KINGS vs. VANCOUVER (see text)