Murray Sidelined at Least Eight Weeks

The diagnosis is in: Glen Murray has a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, requiring an extended recovery of eight to 10 weeks, possibly more.

“He’s bummed out,” King captain Rob Blake said Sunday.

“He can’t really tell yet how long he’s going to be out, and that’s the thing that hits hardest. It’s a huge loss. He and Luc [Robitaille] have carried this team.”

Murray was injured Saturday night when he was hit near the boards by Colorado’s Aaron Miller in the Kings’ 4-2 win. He lay on the ice for 10 minutes before being wheeled off in a stretcher.

“It was kind of a freak play, and he will be back this season,” Blake said. “It’s not like it’s season-ending. He’ll be back for the stretch run and the playoffs.”

That’s if the Kings make the playoffs. Without Murray, who has 15 goals and plays on every special team, it will be harder.

“We’re not deep enough to fill all those roles [with one person],” Blake said. “But some people will have to step up.”

Said Robitaille, who, like Blake, talked with Murray after Saturday’s game: “He’s a key player. Nobody can replace a guy like that. He has a lot of respect around the league.”

For now, several players will fill Murray’s multiple roles. Sandy Moger is expected to be ready to play for Murray on right wing, and Donald Audette’s playing time probably will increase a few minutes each game as he regains condition after a long holdout that prompted Buffalo to trade him to the Kings. Olli Jokinen will probably get some time on the power play and, perhaps, penalty-killing.

“It’s tough to replace a guy like Glen, a guy with size and speed,” Coach Larry Robinson said. “He’s a high-quality player.”

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Defenseman Doug Bodger skated Sunday for the first time since being shaken up last Monday in a collision with Dallas Drake in Phoenix. Drake drew a four-game suspension for his action, and Bodger has missed two games so far. The King defenseman is not expected to make the trip to Edmonton for Tuesday’s game.

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Winger Steve McKenna, out most of the season because of abdominal difficulties, will have surgery Tuesday and faces a long-term recovery. . . . Winger Eric Lacroix is skating again while rehabilitating from a broken sternum.