Perreault Kidney Surgery Couldn’t Wait

Forward Yanic Perreault’s upcoming surgery to repair his obstructed left kidney could not be done at the end of the season, according to Lawrence Paletz, a urologist who will perform the surgery March 7.

“Most of the time, [an ailment] like this is detected early on during one’s childhood,” Paletz said. “The person has some form of discomfort . . . but [Perreault] did not have any.

“Once the repair is done, he should be OK. . . . The surgery had to be done now because the kidney is prone to injury, and hockey is a contact sport.”

Perreault’s kidney problem was discovered after an MRI exam was done for a rib injury, which had kept him out of the lineup since Feb. 5. Perreault finished the season with 11 goals and 25 points in 41 games.

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Forward Craig Johnson did not take long to make his presence felt Saturday night against Vancouver in his first game back in the lineup since Nov. 30. Johnson’s speed gave the Kings a new dimension in the first period as they took a 2-0 lead on goals by defensemen Jan Vopat and Jaroslav Modry.

For Modry, who was recalled Friday from Phoenix, the Kings’ International Hockey League affiliate, it was his third goal of the season and first since Dec. 5 against Tampa Bay.

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Eddie Olczyk’s goal in the second period Saturday night was his fifth goal in three games against the Canucks. Olczyk, who has three goals and five points in his last six games, had three goals in the Kings’ 6-2 win over Vancouver on Jan. 7 at the Forum.