From bad to worse: Now Garon is out

The Kings’ goaltender situation took another hit Friday when the team put Mathieu Garon on injured reserve because of a broken finger on his right hand.

Garon underwent X-rays after Thursday night’s game against the San Jose Sharks and his finger was put in a splint. He did not make the trip to St. Louis, where the Kings play the Blues today, and will spend at least a week on injured reserve.

“It first happened in Detroit and I have had pain in the finger ever since,” Garon said, referring to a game on Dec. 31. “There was nothing that showed up on the X-rays in Detroit. During the game [Thursday] it started feeling a lot worse. I’m not sure if it was broken before then.”

This is the second time Garon has been on injured reserve this season. He sat out 12 games after suffering a groin injury on Nov. 29.

Coach Marc Crawford said Garon was week to week. His finger will be reexamined Friday.

“They are saying he doesn’t need an operation,” Crawford said. “If they had to go in and surgically repair it, then he would be out a while. The good news is this will allow him to heal. It’s not great news, but at least it’s not horrendous.”

The move came on the same day goaltender Dan Cloutier underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, leaving the Kings with two inexperienced goaltenders. Barry Brust is expected to start today. The Kings also brought Yutaka Fukufuji from minor league Manchester on a 48-hour emergency call-up.

The Kings may now look to deal for a goaltender. They are unwilling to risk recalling Jason LaBarbera, who would have to clear waivers. Brust has only five NHL starts and Fukufuji has never appeared in an NHL game.

“We’re trying a little,” General Manager Dean Lombardi said, adding that the team put in a claim for former Ducks minor leaguer Michael Leighton, “but Philly took him. We have been looking, but it just shows you the way the market is -- even guys in that category are getting picked up.”

The situation could get a little worse as Fukufuji was stuck in Cleveland on Friday after flights were canceled because of bad weather.

“I don’t know what’s going on in Cleveland, but just keep piling it on,” Lombardi said. “It’s been one thing after another. We’ll just have to take it. It’s to the point where Fuki was all apologetic for being stuck. He thinks it’s his fault.”

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Defenseman T.J. Fast, a Kings second-round draft pick in 2005, left the University of Denver this week and will probably sign with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. The Kings are not expected to offer him a contract at this time.

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TODAY

at St. Louis, 11 a.m., Channel 4

Site -- Scottrade Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Kings 16-23-6, Blues 15-21-7.

Record vs. Blues -- 1-1.

Update -- The Blues are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games. Kings center Anze Kopitar continued his push for the Calder Trophy with a goal and an assist in Thursday’s loss.

chris.foster@latimes.com