This Practice Is Almost Perfect

It was as intense as a regular-season practice can get for the Kings Monday at their HealthSouth training facility in El Segundo.

Amid a two-game winless streak, they completed every drill with a sense of urgency. There were no brawls but the players competed against each other as if they were fighting for their jobs.

“We’ve had two outstanding practices the last two days,” Coach Andy Murray said about the Kings, who leave today to start a five-game trip at Detroit on Wednesday.

“As a coach, you’re always stepping on the ice every day looking for your best-ever practice.... I don’t know if this was the best ever, but it was close to it.”

Although the Kings are in second place in the Pacific Division with seven points, they understand that they need to play better, what with 13 of their next 15 games away from Staples Center. All the Kings have to do is look back to last season, when one bad trip in October adversely affected their playoff position in April.

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The Kings will not practice today, and a decision on injured winger Ziggy Palffy will not be made until after the team’s morning skate Wednesday. Palffy, on the injured-reserve list because of a left groin strain, did not skate Monday and has sat out the last three games.

If Palffy is unable to play against the Red Wings, rookie Alexander Frolov, who had his first NHL assist in the Kings’ 2-2 tie against Vancouver on Saturday, probably will continue on skate on the No. 1 line with Jason Allison and Adam Deadmarsh.

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Defenseman Aaron Miller, sidelined since the start of training camp after undergoing abdominal surgery, has begun some light skating. He is scheduled to return Nov. 13.