Lilja Not Getting Job Done

The transition from Philippe Boucher to Andreas Lilja has not proceeded as seamlessly as the Kings probably would have hoped.

The Swedish defenseman, penciled in as the replacement when Boucher signed with the Dallas Stars as an unrestricted free agent last summer, has been scratched from the last four games after having played in the first 12, replaced in the lineup by Chris McAlpine or Brad Norton.

“I think he expected more from himself,” Coach Andy Murray said before Tuesday night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I still expect him to play good.”

But Lilja, 27, has some work ahead of him, the coach added.

“He needs to move his feet, he needs to move the puck and he needs to move people,” Murray said. “He needs to be a mover. In other words, he can skate better, he can pass better and he can be more physical....

“I think he needs to be smarter in his game, more assertive in his game -- all things that we’ve told him. That’s why he’s had to sit and watch. He’s got to be better.”

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Mikko Eloranta, who the Kings feared could be sidelined for six weeks after suffering a left knee injury Nov. 5, flew to Vancouver on Tuesday to join the club and is expected to be activated for Thursday night’s game against the Canucks.

Ken Belanger, who suffered a concussion in the same game in which Eloranta was injured, will be put on injured reserve to open a roster spot for Eloranta.

-- Jerry Crowe