Kings’ Denis Gauthier out 1 to 2 weeks; Justin Williams activated

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Defenseman Denis Gauthier is expected to be out of the Kings’ lineup for up to two weeks because of an ever-worrisome upper-body injury, but winger Justin Williams was activated off injured reserve today and is poised to make his Kings debut.

Gauthier was injured during the Kings’ 3-2 overtime victory at Boston on Thursday. A team spokesman said Gauthier, who left the ice in apparent pain after being hit on the hand by a slap shot, had returned to Los Angeles.

Defenseman Davis Drewiske was recalled from Manchester of the American Hockey League to replace him. In a previous five-game call-up he had no points, two penalty minutes and a plus-1 defensive rating. He could play today, when the Kings face the Penguins at Pittsburgh.

Williams, acquired by the Kings from Carolina in a three-way trade pulled off just before the trade deadline, broke his left hand Feb. 15 while playing for Carolina and has missed 15 games.

That injury was the last in a string that began with major reconstructive knee surgery and continued with a torn Achilles’ tendon last September. The Kings gave up Patrick O’Sullivan and a second-round draft pick to get Williams because of his 31-goal season in 2005-06 and his 33-goal performance the following season -- a risky deal because Williams must prove he still has the quickness and mobility to be effective.

-- Helene Elliott