Eloranta Out at Least a Week With Knee Injury

Mikko Eloranta did not make the transcontinental flight with the Kings from San Jose on Wednesday, the Finnish winger returning instead to Los Angeles for tests on his sprained left knee.

An MRI exam revealed no tearing, but Eloranta, injured in a knee-on-knee collision with Bryan Marchment of the San Jose Sharks in the third period of the Kings’ 5-2 loss Tuesday night, is expected to be sidelined for at least a week.

Craig Johnson probably will fill in for Eloranta on a checking line with Brad Chartrand and Ian Laperriere, Coach Andy Murray said.

“They’re similar players,” he said of Johnson and Eloranta.

Enforcer Ken Belanger, who suffered a concussion Tuesday night, made the trip east. He is scheduled for a neurological exam today in Ottawa.

*

Jaroslav Modry’s goal Tuesday night was his fifth in four games.

“We encourage our defensemen to get involved in the attack,” Murray said. “But I’m a little concerned about Modry’s defensive game right now. Modry and [Lubomir] Visnovsky defensively were not very good. They have to be better.”

*

Ziggy Palffy, who sat out six games because of a groin strain, has no points in the four games since Jason Allison was sidelined because of a knee injury and has not scored a goal since the season opener Oct. 9.

“I think he can play better,” Murray said. “I think he wants to play better. We need him to play better.”

Meanwhile, Johnson has no goals in 13 games, Erik Rasmussen has none in 12 and Jaroslav Bednar has none in 11. Bryan Smolinski has two in 13. Eric Belanger, who had three goals in the first four games, has none in the last nine.

*

Of the 38 goals given up by the Kings in 13 games, 22 have been scored in the third period or overtime, six in their last two games.

“What’s interesting is that [in the last two games], we thought the third period was our best period,” Murray said. “Territorially, we dominated the third period [against the Sharks]. I think at one point the shots were 15-3. We were all over them.

“But what happened there: We didn’t score and you’re pressing and it’s getting late.... We’ve had an inability to score timely goals.”