Sharks won’t have Pavelski when they play Kings on Tuesday at Staples Center

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Joe Pavelski, the Sharks’ second-line center and a big factor in their Presidents’ trophy win last season, will miss at least two weeks after undergoing what the team called a minor procedure to repair an unspecified lower-body injury.

He suffered what appeared to be a leg injury in the Sharks’ 4-1 victory over the Ducks on Saturday but finished the game. The Sharks wouldn’t elaborate on the nature of the injury or the procedure. Usually teams wait until the playoffs to be vague about injuries, but the Sharks seem to be getting an early start on that.

Kings captain Dustin Brown practiced Monday after missing Sunday’s session because of a strained gluteal muscle. But winger Wayne Simmonds didn’t skate Monday because of what Coach Terry Murray called a therapy day. Simmonds is expected to play against the Sharks on Tuesday.

Simmonds’ absence Monday forced Murray to put off deciding whether he would change his defense corps or merely switch some pairings. Murray said Sunday that he was considering putting Peter Harrold in the lineup on defense, likely in place of rookie Alec Martinez, but Harrold practiced on the wing Monday -- in Simmonds’ spot with Michal Handzus and Alexander Frolov -- so Harrold’s lack of practice time on defense could postpone any lineup changes.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports --Helene Elliott