No decision on Blake till Tuesday

The Kings will wait to see if Rob Blake responds to treatment for his groin injury before recalling a defenseman.

Blake was injured Saturday in the Kings’ 5-3 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes when he joined the rush late in the second period. He did not return to the game and was not ready to commit to playing against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.

“It’s not that bad,” Blake said Sunday. “I took today off, and tomorrow we don’t practice. We’ll see how it is after that. But I don’t think this is too serious.”

It was the second veteran defenseman the Kings have lost in the last three games. Oleg Tverdovsky suffered a groin injury last Monday against the Sharks.

Tverdovsky skated on Sunday and Coach Marc Crawford said he was making progress.

With Blake and Tverdovsky, and Brent Sopel on injured reserve with a broken ankle and broken hand, the Kings are down to five defensemen. But Crawford also said the team will wait to see whether Blake’s condition improves by Tuesday before making any roster moves.

“There is no rush to do something now,” Crawford said. “We’ll wait and see how Rob is on Tuesday. The only reason we would need someone is if he can’t play.”

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Forward Patrick O’Sullivan, demoted Nov. 2 to the American Hockey League by the Kings, had a hat trick in Manchester’s 5-0 victory Saturday over the Toronto Marlies.

O’Sullivan has five goals and 11 points in nine games with the Monarchs, including six points in his last three games.

Meanwhile, goaltender Jason LaBarbera stopped 46 shots in the shutout. He has a 2.46 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in 13 games.

Kings goaltenders are giving up 3.15 goals a game, ranking them 23rd among 30 teams.

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Jack Johnson, the highly touted defenseman acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes during training camp, has six goals and 12 points in 11 games for the University of Michigan this season. Johnson, a sophomore, could sign with the Kings after the Wolverines finish this season.

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chris.foster@latimes.com