Kings’ Norstrom Has Surgery on Left Elbow

King defenseman Mattias Norstrom had surgery Tuesday to remove bone spurs and scar tissue from his left elbow, an injury that irritated him “most of the year,” General Manager Dave Taylor said.

Norstrom, the team’s only All-Star selection, will begin rehabilitating his elbow in four to six weeks and is expected to make a full recovery in three months.

“He had a couple bones spurs in there bothering him most of the year,” Taylor said. “He played through it. He couldn’t straighten his arm out.”

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Several Kings are expected to play in the world championships, which begin April 24 in the Czech Republic.

Defensemen Aaron Miller and Joe Corvo and rookie forward Dustin Brown will play for the United States. Goaltender Cristobal Huet will play for France and center Esa Pirnes will play for Finland. Goaltender Roman Cechmanek and forward Martin Straka have been invited to try out for the Czech Republic team.

Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, who broke a bone in his foot while blocking a shot in the second-to-last week of the season, might play for Slovakia, Taylor said. Center Jozef Stumpel, who injured his left shoulder in the last week of the season, also could play for Slovakia.

-- Mike Bresnahan

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Philadelphia Flyer defenseman Eric Desjardins will miss the playoffs after a metal plate protecting his injured right arm broke while he was playing catch with his son.

Desjardins returned to the lineup for the final three games of the regular season after breaking his right forearm Jan. 17.

The Flyers play host to New Jersey tonight.