Injury Sidelines Smolinski

Center Bryan Smolinski didn’t play Thursday because of back spasms, which began after the Kings’ game at Phoenix on Tuesday. The absence of Smolinski and of center Ian Laperriere, who is recovering from a concussion, jumbled the second, third and fourth lines.

Eric Belanger took Smolinski’s place between Luc Robitaille and Glen Murray, and Steve Kelly replaced Laperriere on the “energy” line between Nelson Emerson and Kelly Buchberger. The fourth line was Stu Grimson on left wing with Adam Mair at center and Scott Thomas on the right side. Only the first line, of Adam Deadmarsh, Jozef Stumpel and Ziggy Palffy, remained intact.

*

Grimson returned after serving a two-game suspension for collecting three instigator penalties, and no one was happier than Palffy.

Without Grimson, Palffy became a magnet for some vicious hits, including a jarring check from Brad May on Tuesday that left him with a sore jaw. He bounced back each time, but he was weary of checking to be sure his head was still attached to his shoulders.

With Grimson in the lineup, “they have to think twice,” Palffy said. “[Opponents] are not going to go running around when they know Stu is in the lineup.”

Grimson, who has a team-high 231 penalty minutes, was suspended after he initiated a fight with Scott Parker of the Colorado Avalanche.