KINGS NOTEBOOK: VISNOVSKY MIGHT PLAY IN OPENER.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

DETROIT - Rookie defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky tried to skate with the Kings during Monday's early-morning practice in El Segundo, but he was forced off the ice midway through the session with persistent pain in his bruised left knee.

Visnovsky, who left on a stretcher during the second period of Saturday's 3-2 victory at Calgary, said his condition was much improved after Monday's practice.

The Flames' Clarke Wilm slashed Visnovsky twice, striking a nerve under the knee. Visnovsky said he hopes to play Wednesday against Detroit in the Kings playoff opener.

``We think he'll be in there,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said. ``There is feeling back in the knee and he was wiggling his toes after the (Calgary) game.''

Visnovsky, 25, was impressive in his first NHL season, playing 81 games with seven goals and 39 points. He finished fourth overall in rookie scoring and was second on the team to Mathieu Schneider (50 points) in scoring by a defenseman. He led all rookies with a plus-17 rating.

--More defensive news: Even if Visnovsky isn't ready for Wednesday, the Kings could receive a big boost today in their playoff hopes against the Detroit Red Wings. Aaron Miller will try to practice with the team for the first time in three weeks after spraining his left thumb.

Miller, the defenseman acquired with Adam Deadmarsh from Colorado in the Feb. 21 Rob Blake trade, isn't well known to Kings fans. He missed the final nine games after banging his thumb against the boards March 19 against Phoenix.

``We'll see how it goes (today),'' Murray said cautiously. ``Nothing is certain.''

What is known is that Miller, 29, has played well in past postseasons, especially against the Red Wings. Miller is not a high-scoring defenseman, but he had a playoff goal against Detroit on May 1, 1999.

In 1996, the year Colorado won the Stanley Cup, Miller was plus-5 in the Avs' clinching victory over the Red Wings in the Western Conference finals.

Miller impressed the Kings in his first game after the trade by blocking six shots in a 5-0 victory over Calgary. Miller is being considered for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team next February in Salt Lake City. He was a teammate of Philadelphia's John LeClair at the University of Vermont.

--Great ending: Detroit finished the season with a record 19-game home winning streak (17-0-2). Since a loss Dec. 27 to expansion Minnesota had the entire city worried, the Red Wings haven't lost.

The old record of 18 games was accomplished twice - Nov. 19, 1931, to Feb. 28, 1932 (13-0-5), and Dec. 26, 1954 to Mar. 20, 1955 (13-0-5). The Wings began the season 10-9-1-2 at Joe Louis Arena, including losses to Minnesota, Nashville and Calgary.

By beating Colorado on Saturday, No. 2 Detroit finished with 111 points, three more than last year when they were the fourth seed in the West.