Ferraro’s Return a Nice Problem

Center Ray Ferraro, who has sat out 18 games because of torn cartilage in his left knee, is expected to return to the lineup tonight when the Kings host the Chicago Blackhawks.

The return of Ferraro, who led the Kings in goals last season, presents a problem that King Coach Larry Robinson is not too familiar with--trying to decide whom to sit.

“We don’t know who to pull out,” Robinson said Wednesday. “I’ve never had this problem before, but it’s good. Everybody has been practicing hard and has looked good.”

Robinson is unsure if he wants to put Ferraro, 5 feet 10, 192 pounds, and Russ Courtnall (5-11, 185) in the lineup at the same time.

“If we put [in Ferraro and Courtnall] and take out Matt Johnson (6-5, 230) and Steve McKenna (6-8, 247), we go from a being a big team to a small team very quickly,” Robinson said.

Ferraro, who will wear a brace, probably will center a line with Craig Johnson at left wing and McKenna at right wing.

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Goaltender Stephane Fiset, who has lost only two of his last nine starts, may not start tonight because the Kings want to give Frederic Chabot more playing time before Jamie Storr is recalled from the Long Beach Ice Dogs.

Chabot is 1-1-1 with a 2.93 goals-against average.

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Tonight’s game against the Blackhawks will end a six-game home stand for the Kings before they begin a three-game trip to Colorado, Dallas and St. Louis, three of the top teams in the Western Conference. Fewer than 3,000 tickets remain for tonight’s game.

TONIGHT

vs.

Chicago

* 7:30 p.m.

* Fox Sports West

Site--Forum.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Kings 9-8-4, Blackhawks 8-12-2.

Record vs. Blackhawks (1996-97)--1-3.

Update--Last season the Kings lost both games against Chicago at the Forum, and their only victory came in a fight-marred contest at the United Center. In four games against the Kings, Chicago’s Bob Probert and Jim Cummins combined for 70 penalty minutes. Jozef Stumpel leads the Kings with 17 assists and 24 points and Yanic Perreault has a team-high 14 goals, including five in his last three games. Perreault’s linemate, Vladimir Tsyplakov, is expected back in the lineup after sitting out two games because of a broken right hand.