Kuznetsov Gets U.S. Visa, Will Join Team

King defenseman Maxim Kuznetsov, delayed in Russia for more than two months because of visa problems, received a U.S. visa Wednesday and will join the team tonight at Tampa Bay.

Kuznetsov received a Canadian visa last week and had practiced with the Ottawa 67s, a junior team. He also skated while in Russia, but it is unknown what type of shape he is in.

“The coaches will make a determination when he’s in game shape and ready to go,” King Assistant General Manager Kevin Gilmore said.

Kuznetsov played 53 games with Detroit last season before being traded to the Kings as part of the Mathieu Schneider deal in March. Kuznetsov, 6 feet 5 and 235 pounds, played three games with the Kings before he broke his foot and sat out the rest of the season.

“We only got to see him for a few games last year,” Gilmore said. “If he plays the type of game we like him to play, which is gritty and physical, we like that back there on defense.”

*

Rookie Dustin Brown scored his first NHL point Wednesday against the Florida Panthers, an assist on Jon Sim’s goal 11:29 into the second period.

Brown sat out Saturday’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes as a healthy scratch, but he played well in limited ice time against Florida. On the goal, Brown and Sim each fought off checks behind the net before Sim stuffed it past Roberto Luongo for a 3-0 lead.

“It was an outstanding shift,” King Coach Andy Murray said. “I told Dustin Brown it was his best shift as a pro. I thought he was good tonight.”

*

TONIGHT

vs. Tampa Bay, 4 PST, Fox Sports Net

Site -- St. Pete Times Forum.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 6-5-0-0, Lightning 7-1-1-0.

Record vs. Lightning (2002-03) -- 0-1-1-0.

Update -- The Lightning were the league’s last undefeated team until a 5-1 loss Tuesday to Washington. Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin is 6-1-1 with a 2.23 goals-against average. The Kings haven’t beaten Tampa Bay since the 1999-2000 season, going 0-4-1 against the Lightning since then.