Kings Call Up Eliot to Replace Melanson, Take On Canucks Tonight at Vancouver

Maybe Minnesota General Manager Lou Nanne knew something when he traded goalie Roland Melanson to the Kings last month.

Melanson had been out since he injured his groin Nov. 19 against the Calgary Flames.

In his first game back last week, Melanson was beaten by the Pittsburgh Penguins, 7-3, and now he is sidelined again after aggravating the injury Wednesday night in the second period of the Kings’ 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers.

Rogie Vachon, the Kings’ general manager, said that Melanson probably would be able to return next week. “He’s got to rebuild the muscles because he was out for two months,” Vachon said.

Meanwhile, the Kings have recalled backup goalie Darren Eliot from their New Haven, Conn., farm team. He will join the team here tonight for the opener of a two-game home-and-home series against the Vancouver Canucks. The teams will play again Saturday night at the Forum.

The Kings and the Canucks are tied for last place in the Smythe Division with 31 points apiece, two points behind the third-place Winnipeg Jets. The Canucks are 2-0 against the Kings this season.