Yachmenev, Stevens Out but Not Injured

As if the Kings needed more players out of action, forwards Vitali Yachmenev and Kevin Stevens did not play Tuesday night at Colorado.

Yachmenev, who has only one goal since Nov. 17 and four all season, struggled with flu in the Kings’ 2-1 overtime loss at Dallas on Sunday and was too sick too play against the Avalanche.

Stevens, who has scored eight goals since Jan. 7, returned to Los Angeles to be with his wife, Suzanne, who had gone into labor with their first child.

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Forward Dimitri Khristich, who leads the Kings with 41 points, had minor laser surgery on his injured right eye Monday and could be back in the lineup early next week. Khristich was hurt in practice last week when he was hit in the face by the stick of teammate Barry Potomski after a dispute between the two. Potomski was sent down to Phoenix, the Kings’ International Hockey League affiliate, for disciplinary reasons, including his role in Khristich’s injury.