Kings’ Kyle Clifford will miss Game 2 of playoffs against Canucks [Updated]

VANCOUVER, Canada -- Kings winger Kyle Clifford is out for Game 2 of the team’s playoff series against Vancouver on Friday, Coach Darryl Sutter said Thursday.

Clifford suffered what the team is calling an upper-body injury after being driven into the boards by Vancouver’s Byron Bitz during the second period of the Kings’ 4-2 victory at Rogers Arena.

[UPDATED, 4:55 p.m.: Bitz was suspended for two games by the NHL on Thursday after receiving a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct on Wednesday.]

Sutter wouldn’t say who will replace Clifford in the lineup on Friday. “I was talking to Bernie Nicholls this morning about it,” Sutter joked, referring to the Kings’ unofficial assistant coach. “He doesn’t know if he’s quite game-ready.”

On a more serious note, Sutter was asked about the Calgary Flames’ decision to dismiss his brother, Brent, as their coach.

“If Brent wants to coach in the National Hockey League, he’ll coach in the National Hockey League,” Darryl said.

One more quick note: Dustin Penner, who scored the go-ahead goal on Wednesday, said he had pancakes the day of the game. Pancakes became his claim to fame earlier this season, when he had to miss a game because of back spasms and said he had hurt his back while eating his wife’s pancakes. He turned it into a positive incident by hosting a pancake breakfast that raised money for charity.

“I had pancakes yesterday morning,” he said.

Is that the secret to his success? “Right,” he said.

MORE:

Jeff Carter, Kings ready for playoff opener at Vancouver

Canadiens interested in Kings’ Robitaille, Hextall for GM job

Twitter Games: Kings account fires salvo at Canucks fans

Kings’ Clifford out for Game 2 of playoffs