KINGS UPDATE: NEW CONTROL HELPS AVERY.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Sean Avery gave away eight inches to Vancouver power forward Todd Bertuzzi on Thursday, but there was a more telling stat.

Avery held Bertuzzi, a 48-goal scorer last season, to zero shots during the Kings' 3-1 loss to the Canucks.

Avery's job on the Kings' checking line is to harass the opponents' top player, get under their skin and throw them him off their game.

``To be perfectly honest I would rather disrupt the other team than score a goal,'' Avery said. ``It's true.''

So far, there have been challenges. Some nights officials don't mind his trash-talking, hyperactive approach. Other nights it just doesn't fly.

During the season opener in Detroit, Avery was playing against the team that traded him to the Kings last March. He took three foolish penalties that hurt momentum in a game the Kings eventually lost on a last-second goal by Steve Yzerman.

Kings coach Andy Murray was livid. It was difficult to watch a winnable game slip away on the road against one of the league's elite teams.

``He knows he needs to make changes and that is the first step,'' Murray said then of Avery. ``You don't want to take away his spirit and enthusiasm but he needs to play a little more under control.''

In that game, Avery had six penalty minutes. In his next seven games he had 12. That is critical since the Kings have struggled with their penalty killing until the past few games.

Murray didn't bench Avery after the opening game. But Avery did take a step back. When the Kings traveled to Pittsburgh from Detroit, Avery left the team for one game to attend the funeral of Atlanta winger Dan Snyder.

Snyder died last month after a car being driven by Atlanta teammate Dany Heatley struck an iron gate. Avery and Snyder played junior hockey together for three seasons in Owen Sound, Ontario.

``I knew I had to concentrate better on the ice,'' Avery said. ``I was losing my focus. It was important to me that I be known for more than just yapping on the ice. I am making that adjustment.''

The Kings' checking line has remained virtually intact all season. The club's other three units have been shuffled by Murray in search of the right combinations.

Avery's line, which includes Eric Belanger at center and Ian Laperriere on right wing, has been consistent. Murray said he never has seen Belanger play better than he did against the Canucks last Thursday.

Of course, there are still going to be those nights.

Saturday's 7-3 victory over Phoenix turned physical in the third period after the Kings took a 5-1 lead.

The biggest fight of the night came after Avery instigated a penalty that turned into a major brawl. He and the Coyotes' Daymond Langkow were ejected.

Although Avery's penalties led to a power-play goal by Radoslav Suchy that cut the lead to 5-3, there was a method to the madness. Langkow is one of the the Coyotes' better offensive players.

Alexander Frolov came back with two late goals and the Kings ended a losing streak at three games.

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com