Last chance to impress?

Could this be the final chance for Kyle Clifford and Brayden Schenn to make an impression on Kings coaches and management? Both junior-eligible rookies are expected to be in the lineup tonight, and Terry Murray indicated that before the Kings’ next game (on Thursday), the team could decide whether to keep the players or return them to their junior teams. That decision must be made before each player plays his 10th game, or else the player burns a year from his pro contract. Tonight will be Schenn’s eighth game and Clifford’s seventh game. The Kings are likely to make a roster move soon anyway, given that Scott Parse seems on the verge of returning. Murray said he had not yet made plans to talk to GM Dean Lombardi about the rookies’ status.

“I don’t have a plan, but I know it’s going to happen real soon,” Murray said of a meeting with Lombardi. “Probably after this game. We’ve got several days of practice time ahead of us now, so it will, no question, be a conversation that we’ll be having. Both kids have been pretty impressive.”