Numbers game in goal

Jonathan Bernier has already appeared in two preseason games (five periods, 100 minutes), while Erik Ersberg — who missed several days of practice with a hand injury — has not yet played a minute in preseason. Given that only two games remain in the preseason after tonight, it’s a given that Ersberg will get at least a couple periods before the Kings decide on a backup goalie. Right?

Not so fast.

Given a few opportunities, today, to commit to playing Ersberg before the end of the preseason, coach Terry Murray abstained. Jonathan Quick is scheduled to play the full game tonight, as well as the full game either Saturday (in Las Vegas) or Sunday (in Anaheim). Murray left open the possibility that Bernier and Ersberg could split the other game, but didn’t commit to it, and didn’t guarantee that Ersberg would play at all.

“That’s what I have to think about,” Murray said. “That’s what I need to sort out here, as we get into the last two games and think about the one game that Quick will not play. So we’ll discuss that as we get closer to that time. I have not made a lineup, in any area of the lineup, for the next couple of games yet.”

Ersberg was scheduled to play in the preseason opener, but a wrench was thrown into those plans when Ersberg hurt his hand in practice.

Ersberg, 28, has been the Kings’ backup goalie for the past two seasons while Bernier, 22, was the AHL’s top goalie last season. At the start of camp, Murray declared it an open competition for the No. 2 goalie spot, but if Ersberg doesn’t even get into a game, it won’t end up being much of a competition.

Today, Murray said that he wouldn’t make a decision on the backup goalie was not imminent.

“I think that goes down to the very last days before the start of the year,” Murray said. “There really doesn’t need to be a hurry on that. Quick is playing tonight, then two more (games). We still have four days of practice before the start of the year. The thing that everyone knows, and needs to know, is that Quick is our No. 1 goaltender. As we get through our last two exhibition games, and into the final days of practice, he will have a net. He’s getting himself ready for starting opening night in Vancouver, and we’ll sort the rest out. I don’t believe that there needs to be any hurried decision on that.

“It’s not easy, when you’ve got three games and three goalies. Normally — and it’s my philosophy, going through time — that you’re going to play your starting goaltender in two of those last three games. He doesn’t necessarily have to play the final game, which always seemed to be the thought. `OK, he’s playing the final game, so that’s your No. 1 guy.’ I don’t really go with that, but I do want to get Quick into two of the three. So that’s the juggle you have to have.”