Straka May Return Sooner Than Expected

King forward Martin Straka, already ahead of schedule, could start practicing with contact next week, one month after surgery to remove cartilage in both knees.

Straka, who had six goals and five assists in 18 games after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been skating without contact for two weeks and remains ahead of the original estimate of a late March return.

Straka was injured in a knee-to-knee collision with Columbus Blue Jacket defenseman Anders Eriksson and underwent surgery Jan. 22.

“We’re hoping he can practice with the team next week,” King General Manager Dave Taylor said. “He’s obviously a very good offensive player.”

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Goaltender Roman Cechmanek was put on the injured reserve list and will sit out at least three games because of a groin injury suffered Wednesday against the Dallas Stars.

Cechmanek, placed on the list retroactive to Thursday, will miss games against Columbus, Nashville and Dallas. He would be eligible to play next Saturday against the Mighty Ducks.

“Roman just doesn’t look like he’ll be ready in four or five days,” King Coach Andy Murray said. “It’s worse than what we originally thought.”

Cristobal Huet will start the next three games, with Mathieu Chouinard serving as backup.

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Forward Michael Cammalleri, selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2001 draft, returned to the big team after nearly seven weeks in Manchester. Cammalleri scored eight goals in 11 games with the Kings after being called up from Manchester in mid-November but did not have a goal in his last 11 games and was sent down Jan. 3.

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TONIGHT

vs. Columbus, 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 22-17-14-7, Blue Jackets 17-31-8-4.

Record vs. Blue Jackets -- 0-0-1-2.

Update -- The Kings have struggled against the Blue Jackets, who are 7-0-1 in the series since the Kings last beat them in February 2002. This season, the Kings tied the Blue Jackets once and lost twice in overtime.

-- Mike Bresnahan