KINGS NOTEBOOK: LABARBERA EARNS KEEP WITH KINGS.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - The day the Kings traded for Jeremy Roenick, a phone call was placed to coach Andy Murray, who made sure to reference how much the team thought of the player it had just acquired.

The player Murray made sure to point out wasn't Roenick though. It was Jason LaBarbera.

One of the questions entering training camp was why the Kings didn't sign a veteran backup goaltender, but LaBarbera so far has justified the Kings' faith in him. LaBarbera, who will start tonight against Columbus, has won both of his previous starts and stopped 50 of the 53 shots he has faced.

With Murray having declared the goalie position open to be won, LaBarbera has held his own so far compared to Mathieu Garon, although LaBarbera stops short of calling it a competition.

``It's funny,'' LaBarbera said. ``I understand that we're competing for ice time, but when it comes down to it, we're on the same team. We're teammates and he's a low-key guy, like me.

``We get along really well. We're there for each other. Nobody else knows what it's like to stand out there by yourself for three hours.''

LaBarbera, who entered this season with just five games of NHL experience, impressed the Kings enough to sign him based on his strong performance in the American Hockey League last season.

``Coming into (training camp), I really didn't know what to expect,'' LaBarbera said. ``I still try not to think too much about it. I don't leave the rink and worry about what my situation is.''

Murray committed to his rotating-goalie system at least through tonight, and it could continue, since both players have allowed a couple soft goals but have been otherwise solid.

--Oh, the irony: The most amusing sight at practice Saturday was that of Sean Avery wearing a visor. Avery suffered a broken nose during a brief scuffle late in Thursday's game against Detroit.

Avery, who doesn't normally wear a face-shielding visor, made news during the preseason when he took verbal shots at French-Canadian players who wear visors.

--Injury report: Valeri Bure, out since Sept. 29 with a back injury, said he had felt ``not too much of an improvement'' and will see doctors again Monday.

Bure said surgery has not been ruled out.

``That's always a possibility,'' Bure said. ``It's not in my vocabulary yet, though.

``I probably have made some progress, but just not fast enough. Maybe there is a way to speed it up.''

Bure's exact condition has been top-level secret stuff. Bure said last week had he a herniated disc, but the Kings swiftly refuted that and said Bure might have a bulging disc. ...

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com