Bodger Is Back for Duty

Doug Bodger is ready to play tonight for the first time since he was checked from behind by the Coyotes’ Dallas Drake late in the Kings’ game at Phoenix on Dec. 28.

“They said that it would be a couple of weeks, but I said, ‘I’m all right. I’ll be ready for the weekend,’ ” said Bodger, who suffered a cervical sprain when Drake knocked him into the boards. Drake drew a four-game suspension from the NHL for the play.

Since then, Bodger has skated well some days, poorly others and not at all still others, dealing with pain that comes and goes.

“Three days ago, I skated and felt terrible,” he said. “I took a couple of days off while the team was on the road [in San Jose] and didn’t skate, just rode the bicycle. And now I feel fine.”

Enough to come off the injured reserve list and play tonight against Calgary, should Coach Larry Robinson put him in the lineup.

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Winger Glen Murray, who suffered a torn knee ligament in a game against Colorado on Jan. 2, reported swelling in his knee Wednesday.

Doctors said recovery and rehabilitation would take eight to 10 weeks, but “I felt great and I thought it was like a two-week injury,” Murray said. “I rode the bike, lifted weights, everything.”

And the knee rebelled.

“It was too early,” Murray said. “I’ve just got to stay off it.”

TONIGHT vs. Calgary, 7:30

Site--Great Western Forum.

Radio--KRLA (1110).

Records--Kings 15-22-4, Flames 14-25-3.

Record vs. Flames--0-1.

Update--Jamie Storr will be in goal for the Kings tonight. The Flames are on a pace to have fewer points than any Calgary team in history. The club record is 65.