Cloutier could return tonight
Kings goaltender coach Bill Ranford opened the door to the team’s locker room, poked his head outside and was dismayed by the uninhabited sheet of ice.
“Where the heck is my goaltender?” Ranford barked.
Let’s see, one is on injured reserved, one is in Long Beach, one is living the Life of Riley and one is in limbo. The more burning question is, “Who the heck is the Kings’ goaltender?”
The answer hinges on how well Dan Cloutier feels. He missed the last two games because of a bruised shoulder, but practiced Monday and could go tonight against Calgary.
“Clouts looked pretty good today,” Coach Marc Crawford said. “If he’s available, we’ll play him.”
If he’s not, Barry Brust will make his third straight start, having played well enough to get the Kings points in his first two games. If Cloutier can’t play, the Kings also would have to recall Yutaka Fukufuji, who was sent to the Long Beach Ice Dogs instead of being returned to Manchester, N.H., the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate.
“My shoulder definitely feels a lot better,” said Cloutier, who had extra padding in the shoulder area Monday. “The swelling has gone way down. I skated today and it felt fine. We’ll have to see how it reacts tomorrow.”
Mathieu Garon, meanwhile, took the ice for the first time since injuring his groin Nov. 29. Ranford put him through a short workout Monday.
“I’d like to say I’m about ready to go,” Garon said. “That’s what I want, but after today I realize it is going to take some time. It feels much better, but there is still some pain. At least I’m on the ice, that’s progress.”
TONIGHT
vs. Calgary, 7:30, FSN West
Site -- Staples Center.
Radio -- 1540.
Records -- Kings 12-17-5, Flames 16-12-3.
Record vs. Flames -- 1-0.
Update -- The Kings’ Lubomir Visnovsky, who missed the last two games because of a shoulder injury, practiced Monday and could play tonight. “Besides, my mom and dad are here,” he said. “I have to play, maybe give them a Christmas present.”
Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.
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