Injured Players’ Status Gets Murky

The Kings seem to have gone into full playoff mode, judging by their recent injury reports.

With nine players hurt -- plus Valeri Bure (back surgery) missing since the season began -- the Kings could be excused for not being up to date on every injury in the new open and media-friendly NHL. Still, there seems to be an ongoing epidemic.

Coach Andy Murray originally reported:

Forward Sean Avery -- “An upper-body injury.”

Forward Dustin Brown -- “An upper-body injury.”

Later, Murray said that Avery and Brown had MRIs exams Tuesday, but that neither “showed any structural damage.”

“Brownie has a bruise, and Aves has a strain,” Murray said. “We like to think they’re day to day.”

But Murray would not reveal where the two players were injured.

“Guys classified as day to day, we’re not giving out too much information,” Murray said.

Avery is believed to have a shoulder injury. Brown, who was injured in Monday’s game against Dallas, reportedly complained of being sore in the shoulder and neck area.

“It’s actually not his neck and not his shoulder is what I’ll tell you,” Murray said. “It’s definitely not his neck and shoulder. It looked that way when he left the ice, but not now.”

Forwards Jeff Cowan (strained hamstring) and George Parros (sprained ankle) might be ready by the end of the week, Murray said, although that was the same prognosis for both last week as well.

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The Kings have gone 10-3-1 since ending a four-game losing streak in November. That includes victories over Calgary, Vancouver, Colorado and two against Dallas, all teams in playoff spots as of Tuesday morning.

“A team never benefits from panic,” team captain Mattias Norstrom said. “We need urgency, not panic. When we lost those four games, should we have addressed every problem, every play? No. I think sometimes you just have to play. Some nights you hit the post, some nights the puck goes in.”