KINGS UPDATE: KINGS' BRENNAN BIDING HIS TIME TEAM STILL HIGH ON LITTLE-USED ENFORCER.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Kip Brennan isn't playing because he has been bad. He isn't playing because the Kings have been good.

As the team's enforcer, Brennan usually sees action only if an opponent employs a physical style. But during the club's stretch of four victories in the last five games, Brennan has been sitting regardless of the opponent.

``I thought I might get in against Florida or Washington,'' Brennan said. ``But it is not frustrating. You don't want to upset a winning formula. I understand that completely.''

Brennan, 23, has seen action in just four of the first 14 games. He made the team out of training camp by showing more of an all-around skill than fellow tough guy Ryan Flinn.

Brad Norton, who knocked the Mighty Ducks' Kevin Sawyer into retirement last year during a fight, is out three months after severing a tendon in his right forearm.

Last year's enforcer, Ken Belanger, hasn't played since Nov. 6, 2002, due to a concussion and is no longer under contract.

So while the job clearly is his, Brennan doesn't get much opportunity practicing what he does best - fighting.

``You can keep the other parts of your game sharp,'' Brennan said. ``But fighting is something you don't really practice. You just kind of have to do it.''

Kings coach Andy Murray isn't worried Brennan will lose his edge. He remembers on the first day of training camp three years ago, Brennan and Flinn went at it during the opening whistle.

``Believe me, it's not that we don't need him or that fighting is down around the league,'' Murray said. ``Right now I want the other guys in there.''

Brennan was the 104th overall pick in the 1998 draft and has split time the past two seasons between the Kings and minor-league Manchester, N.H.

He has played 27 NHL games and still is looking for his first point.

Tough guys usually are left wingers who play on the fourth line. Their minutes often are dictated by the score early in the game.

Right now, the Kings have been going with Jon Sim, who has only two points (both goals) in nine games. But Sim has contributed solid two-way hockey, always a plus for Murray, and the Kings are 7-1-0-1 in games in which he has appeared.

Brennan also expected competition from Brad Chartrand, who lost his fourth-line center spot to rookie Esa Pirnes. Chartrand could fill in on left wing and battle with Sim for playing time.

But with second-line center Jozef Stumpel out another two weeks with cartilage damage in his chest, Chartrand has taken his place.

``When you look at this team there are always opportunities popping up,'' Brennan said. ``The key is to be ready when they come up.''

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com

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KIP BRENNEN

Kings' tough guy has played in just four of 14 games this season.