Kings hope to get Marian Gaborik back for playoffs

Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said Monday that injured winger Marian Gaborik is going to be out of action “long-term, for sure.”

The Kings were in Washington but were off the ice Monday, a mandated recovery day, after they had played three games in the previous four days. They face the Capitals on Tuesday.

Gaborik was injured in the first period against the New York Rangers on Friday in a knee-on-knee collision. He was unable to put any weight on his left leg. The Kings placed him on injured reserve the next day but there was no additional update until Sutter responded, via email, on Monday night.

“Hope to get him back for the playoffs,” Sutter said.

It is a tough loss for the Kings on multiple levels. Gaborik had been showing signs of regaining his scoring touch, and the team will miss his game-breaking ability and knack of creating something out of nothing.