Demitra to Miss at Least Another Week

The Kings’ Pavol Demitra said Wednesday he would not be able to play for at least another week.

Demitra was hit by a puck while playing for Slovakia during the Olympics, suffering a broken nose and bleeding behind his right eye.

He will be re-examined by a doctor on Tuesday -- the day after the Kings leave on a four-game trip -- and will not be cleared to play until the blood behind his eye has dissipated.

“My vision is still blurry,” said Demitra, who leads the Kings with 22 goals and 57 points. “It’s going to take a little time, but I’m hoping to be back soon.”

The earliest he would be back in the lineup is March 9, when the Kings play at Detroit. He missed 10 games in January after being hit in his right leg by a puck, which caused a deep bruise and nerve damage.

“We were hoping for better news,” Coach Andy Murray said. “But when he is cleared, he can play. He just finished the Olympics, so he has been skating, and he is a skill player, so his hands will come back pretty fast.”

Demitra was injured with 10 minutes left in a quarterfinal game when a shot by the Czech Republic’s Milan Jurcina struck just below the visor; he spent the next five hours in a hospital with a patch over his eye.

“The last thing you’re thinking about then is hockey,” Demitra said. “When they removed the patch, I could see lights. It was weird.”

Demitra said he began wearing a visor five years ago, after suffering a similar injury when he was hit in the eye by a stick.

TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Kings 32-23-5, Wild 29-26-5.

Record vs. Wild -- 1-1.

Update -- The Wild’s Marian Gaborik has 12 goals in the last 15 games. Manny Fernandez, who had been sharing time with Dwayne Roloson, was appointed the team’s No. 1 goaltender in January. He is third in the NHL with a .924 save percentage and fourth with a 2.17 goals-against average.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.