Hockey update: Injuries hit Kings and Ducks
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Apparently, games against the Canucks are costly ones for the Kings and Ducks.
King Coach Terry Murray said after Saturday’s morning skate in El Segundo that forward Dustin Penner had sustained a hand injury in Thursday’s loss to Vancouver and would be out of the lineup. Brad Richardson goes back in tonight against the Wild.
Just how long Penner will be out is unclear.
‘Specifically, it (happened) on one of the power plays,’ Murray said. ‘I’m not exactly sure which one it was. ... It’s going to be longer than day-to-day. I can’t speculate. ... I don’t like to put a specific time on it because it’s the wrong message to a player. He’s going to be out longer than day-to-day, though.’
Not long after Murray disclosed Penner’s injury came word from Ducks’ headquarters. Offensive-minded defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky will be out for about four weeks with a broken finger on his right hand. He sustained the injury late in the third period of the Ducks’ victory on Friday night against the Canucks when he was hit by a shot.
Visnovsky will not need surgery. And it appears as though the Ducks will not be making an immediate move since they have had an extra defenseman, Kurtis Foster, who usually sits.
Lastly, there will not be a suspension or even a fine from the league for Aaron Rome’s hit on Ducks rookie Devante Smith-Pelly. Rome, who received a five-minute major and automatic game misconduct, did not target the head, in the league’s opinion.
Smith suffered a bloody nose but resumed playing after treatment. He was teased about his bloody sacrifice. ‘It got us two goals. Anything you can do to help, I guess,’ Smith-Pelly said, smiling.
--Lisa Dillman
