KINGS NOTEBOOK: KINGS LOOKING FOR WAY TO FIND NET.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Good news might be on the horizon for Milan Hnilicka, the second-year goaltender for the Atlanta Thrashers, who face the Kings at Staples Center tonight.

Hnilicka enters the game with a 3-5 record. But during their current five-game winless streak, the Kings have made it a habit of making every opposing goalie look like an all-star because of their inability to capitalize on numerous scoring chances.

During the skid, the Kings have outshot their opponents 138-114 but have been outscored 17-7. That's an aggregate save percentage of 94 percent for opposing goaltenders Jocelyn Thibault, Arturs Irbe, Roberto Luongo and Nikolai Khabibulin - not exactly an awe-inspiring foursome.

``We're making the other goalies look like the best players on the ice,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said Friday, the morning after his team scored just twice on 31 shots in a loss to Chicago. ``Most nights, our chance-to-goal ratio should be better than what it is. There are some players whose individual totals are certainly not what they should be. I take the stats from our 14 games and project it out to 82 games, and it doesn't look good for some guys.

``But you have to believe that it will get better. You have to look at it the way Magic Johnson did. `I missed 18 shots in a row, but I'm a 50 percent shooter so I'm going to make the next 18.' ''

Murray put extra emphasis during Friday's practice on scoring near the goal crease and deflecting pucks that are shot in from the top of the slot.

--One of the guys: Perhaps because of the offensive deficiencies, Murray has been reluctant to criticize goaltender Felix Potvin during this bad stretch.

Potvin has allowed more than three goals just once in his past nine games, but is 2-7. Potvin's problem has been allowing quick consecutive goals, as he did in the last two games against the Blackhawks. Potvin will start tonight.

``Felix is accountable, just like everybody else on our team,'' Murray said. ``Everybody on our team can be better. I would never answer that question about Felix specifically. The way I answer that is that everybody needs to be better.''

--Nice surprise: Newly acquired center Jason Allison made his home debut Thursday, even though he missed the morning skate and Wednesday's practice with a sore left ankle after he took a shot on the foot Tuesday.

Allison played 24 minutes, most among Kings forwards, and assisted on Adam Deadmarsh's third-period goal.

``It's mind over matter with him,'' Murray said. ``We have a lot of guys who are really sucking it up. If we were a baseball team, we'd have our whole minor-league team up here right now, but hockey players (are tough).

``He kept saying he'd be able to play, but in practice he couldn't skate, he couldn't do anything. Then he went out and probably had his best game (as a King).''

KINGS vs. ATLANTA

Time: 1 p.m., at Staples Center.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 1110-AM

Matchup: The Kings' slow march toward health continues. Jason Allison (ankle) and Adam Deadmarsh (bruised ribs) returned to the lineup Thursday, but coach Andy Murray said Deadmarsh's status once again will be a game-time decision today. Ziggy Palffy (back) is eligible to come off injured reserve today, but won't return until at least Thursday, and Murray said defenseman Aaron Miller (back) still is ``a few weeks'' away from returning. Nelson Emerson (concussion) also is on IR. Rookie left wing Dany Heatley leads the Thrashers with nine points and rookie right wing Igor Kovalchuk has a team-high seven goals. Former King Ray Ferraro is tied for third with seven points.

- Rich Hammond

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KINGS vs. ATLANTA (see text)