Demitra Could Be Out Awhile

Forward Pavol Demitra has nerve damage in his right leg, which could leave the Kings without their leading scorer for an extended period.

Demitra skated briefly on Monday but did not take the ice Tuesday. He was believed to have a deep bruise in the leg, suffered late in a Jan. 5 game against Phoenix. Later tests determined the nerve damage.

“We think Demitra will be back shortly,” Coach Andy Murray said.

Demitra was much less optimistic.

“I’m not even close,” he said. “The nerve damage is what is causing all the problems.”

Demitra was not sure how the injury occurred, but he was barely able to move his leg the day after the Phoenix game. The injury has improved, but not significantly.

Losing Demitra robs the Kings of their most creative offensive player. He was among the NHL leaders with 20 goals and 50 points when he was injured.

The Kings were hoping for better news on defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, who is out because of a cervical strain. Visnovsky, second among NHL defensemen in goals (13) and points (45), skated for about 45 minutes on Tuesday, and Murray said he might play Thursday against Atlanta.

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Goaltender Jason LaBarbera returned to the Kings on Tuesday after playing three games in Manchester, N.H., on a conditioning assignment.

“It was good to get some games in,” LaBarbera said. “I could relax and get 60 minutes knowing I was going to get another 60 minutes the next game. Hopefully, it is something I can build on.”

It has been a difficult season for LaBarbera. He was alternating games with Mathieu Garon at the start of the season, but had to leave the team for three days because of a family matter and has played in only five games, all losses, since Nov. 5.

LaBarbera came off the bench in the second period against Tampa Bay on Tuesday night after Garon suffered what appeared to be a rib cage injury in the first period.

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Forward Alexander Frolov sat out Tuesday’s game because of flu, Murray said.... The Kings recalled forward Matt Ryan and defenseman Richard Petiot from Manchester. Petiot became the eighth player to make his NHL debut with the Kings this season, as they used seven defensemen because of Frolov’s illness.