Broken Finger Sidelines Roenick

The Kings’ Jeremy Roenick, coming off his best game this season, will sit out four to six weeks because of a broken index finger on his left hand. The injury opens the way for Luc Robitaille to return to the lineup tonight against the Calgary Flames.

Roenick was injured blocking a shot while killing a penalty in the Kings’ 4-3 shootout victory over Vancouver on Monday. He returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday to see a specialist and said he probably would undergo surgery on Thursday.

Robitaille, as a result, will get a chance to play again after sitting out the last three games as a healthy scratch. Coach Andy Murray would only say that Robitaille was “one of the considerations.” But according to Robitaille, Murray told him he would be in the lineup.

The injury to Roenick was another setback in a season where he had high expectations. Roenick has struggled much of the season, fighting through nagging injuries and questions about whether he was finished as a player.

“It looks like someone wants to erase my whole 2005-06 season,” Roenick said. “That’s fine until the playoffs. The last four games, I felt like I was starting to get into a groove and getting things in the right place. I was getting a lot time on the ice and a lot of opportunities. Then this happens. Oh well, what are you going to do?”

Roenick had a goal and an assist against Vancouver, bringing the Kings back from a 2-0 deficit. He has only six goals and 13 points this season.

“It’s a shame because that was J.R.’s best game of the season,” Murray said.

Roenick expects to get back on the ice quickly.

“I’ve always been a fast healer,” he said.

Said team captain Mattias Norstrom: “J.R. means so much to this team, more than just what he gives us on the ice. He is a very vocal guy in the room, getting us ready to play.”

Robitaille had been benched the last three games as his production dropped. He has five goals in 21 games, but sat out nine games because of a broken leg bone.

“It has been a difficult situation because of Luc’s reputation in our organization, let alone his reputation in the National Hockey League,” Murray said. “But it is my job to put the best players on the ice.”

Murray played it coy Tuesday about Robitaille, saying he could use the veteran left winger or Petr Kanko, who made his NHL debut Friday night, or even activate George Parros from injured reserve.

“I expect a lot of myself and I want to help the team,” said Robitaille, who had one goal in 10 games after returning from his injury. “But I just have to play. I think the mistake I made when I came back from the injury was I thought too much out there. You have to play this game when you’re out there and not think about it so much.”

Robitaille’s benching had been a delicate situation, given that the future Hall of Famer had disagreed with Murray’s decision.

Robitaille has 658 goals, the most by a left winger, and his 547 goals as a King are three shy of Marcel Dionne’s team record.

But Robitaille has kept his unhappiness separate from the team, Norstrom said.

“Luc is such a class act, he made it clear this was his thing and he was going to work through it,” Norstrom said. “This has been tough on him. We all know he is going to be ready when he gets his chance.”