Return to the Lineup Enough for Belanger

Eric Belanger didn’t really care that he opened Tuesday night’s game against Vancouver skating on the King’s fourth line because he was happy just to get back on the ice.

“I’m so excited,” Belanger said after he was taken off the injured list Tuesday morning after missing the previous 29 games following surgery to his left wrist. “I feel like a kid in a candy store.... Waiting has been tough, that’s the part of the game that people don’t see with professional athletes.”

Belanger, who had eight goals and 22 points in 46 games at the time he suffered his injury Jan. 15 against Nashville, skated on a line with Kelly Buchberger and Adam Mair. King Coach Andy Murray said he plans to bring back Belanger slowly, which is fine with the second-year center.

“I will always give 100% when I step on the ice but it’s going to take a little while for me to get back to where I was before I got injured,” Belanger said. “I just have to pace myself.”

After leading all NHL rookies in winning percentage last season, Belanger ranked among the league leaders this season before he was hurt. It’s a skill that he hopes to help the Kings with during their stretch run.

“I took a few [faceoffs] before Tuesday,” Belanger said. “But the best thing is to get back on the ice in games and take them. But I’m pretty confident. Faceoffs is not something that you lose.”

To help make room for Belanger, Murray made right wing Steve Heinze, without a goal in 25 games, a healthy scratch for the fourth time since March 7.

At the start of the season, Heinze was one of the Kings’ top offensive threats with six goals and 12 points in 15 games. But since then, Heinze has struggled.