KINGS NOTEBOOK: KINGS HAVE GREATER GOALS ON THEIR MINDS.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Kings coach Andy Murray sharpened his pencil, did the math and came up with an easy solution to the Kings' problems over much of the first month of the season: More goals equal more victories.

It sounds simple because it is. The Kings have lost eight times in regulation, and in six of those games, three goals would have been enough to earn them at least a point for reaching overtime, or two for a victory.

Four times this season the Kings have scored at least three goals, and they won three of those games. A lack of scoring isn't the Kings' only problem, but it's the biggest one.

``You either give up only two or you score three,'' Murray said. ``That's the threshold we're trying for because we haven't given up a lot.''

The Kings' problem isn't easy to pinpoint. Injuries have played a big part, as well as the trade of leading scorer Glen Murray and first-line center Jozef Stumpel and the transition of adding Jason Allison to the offense.

Even simpler, some players just aren't matching the numbers they previously put up.

``I don't think you can say, 'This is what you do,' '' Murray said. ``When a guy is not hitting in baseball, you kind of look at it and see whether his shoulder is down too much or he's got his hands in the wrong position maybe.

``If a guy's not scoring goals, you can tell him to get rid of the puck quicker, to work on keeping the stick in front of the body a little bit more so you can get rid of it quicker, but it's not as scientific as other sports are.''

--Not yet: Forward Ziggy Palffy and defenseman Aaron Miller, both out with back injuries, are not expected to play tonight against Calgary. But Palffy said he will be ready to play Saturday against Detroit.

Palffy and Miller did not return to practice until Tuesday.

``(The injury is) still fresh, and if I hurt it again, it's going to be a long time (out of the lineup),'' Palffy said. ``So I'll wait a couple days and it's going to be all right.''

All week, Murray said the team would prepare as though Palffy and Miller would not play tonight.

--No rest: The Kings have a potential advantage tonight in that Calgary had to play Wednesday night at Anaheim. Murray traveled south to scout the Flames but downplayed the idea of a tired opponent.

The Kings have not played since Saturday's victory over Atlanta.

``It's only an advantage if you make it an advantage, so it all depends on how (we) play,'' Murray said. ``Calgary is such a determined team and they have a lot of youth and energy, so I doubt if it's much of a factor.

``It's nice for our coaches to see them live, but I think it's all about how we play.

KINGS vs. CALGARY

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

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

Matchup: While the Kings continue to search for scoring, the Flames have received plenty of it from right wing Jarome Iginla, who entered Wednesday's game leading the league with 23 points and was tied for first with 14 goals. Iginla, in his sixth year, had a career-high 71 points last season. The Flames also have received a boost from rejuvenated 31-year-old goalkeeper Roman Turek, who is tied for the league lead with 10 wins and had a 1.73 goals-against average, fourth-best in the NHL going into Wednesday's game at the Pond.

- Rich Hammond

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KINGS vs. CALGARY (see text)