Advertisement

They’re Hurting for an Answer

Share
Times Staff Writer

The Kings, alarmed by their staggering number of injuries, are trying to figure out how they can avoid a similar epidemic in the future.

With input from General Manager Dave Taylor, Coach Andy Murray, trainer Pete Demers and strength and conditioning coach Dave Good, as well as the players, the club is hoping to find out if it can do anything differently to hold it together.

“I’ve never been with a team that’s been hit this hard, where we had to say, ‘Something just doesn’t seem right here,’ ” Murray said.

Advertisement

The Kings have not played a game with their full lineup this season. In 20 games since Dec. 14, when only defensemen Aaron Miller and Lubomir Visnovsky were sidelined, they have not had fewer than three regulars on the shelf, sometimes playing with as many as eight sitting out because of injuries.

“Is this bad luck? Probably,” President Tim Leiweke said. “Is there more that contributes to it? Probably not. But I think every organization, when they go through any problems or any troubles or down times, if they’re good they spend some time trying to figure out what went wrong and how do you fix it.”

*

Murray said that none of the Kings’ injured players -- Adam Deadmarsh, Eric Belanger, Brad Chartrand, Ken Belanger, Kip Brennan and Visnovsky -- are expected to return until after the All-Star break next weekend.... Michael Cammalleri was recalled from the minors after Erik Rasmussen sat out the last two periods of Saturday night’s 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils because of a bruised foot.

*

TONIGHT

vs. San Jose, 7:30, FSN

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 19-22-4-4, Sharks 17-20-6-5.

Record vs. Sharks -- 1-1.

Update -- Defenseman Kyle McLaren, acquired from the Boston Bruins on Thursday in a three-team trade, is expected to make his Shark and season debut in the first game of a home-and-home series that concludes Tuesday night at San Jose. Three of the Kings’ four victories in 17 games have come in overtime, among them a 3-2 decision over the Sharks on Jan. 13 at Staples Center.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.

Advertisement