Dec. 28--The news Sunday could have been a double dose of holiday gloom for the Kings.
Instead, a potentially challenging scenario turned into the not-quite-so-bad variety by the time the team departed for Vancouver after Sunday morning's practice in Arizona.
Center Jeff Carter, who left Saturday's game against the Coyotes after completing two short shifts, returned to Los Angeles to have his upper-body injury evaluated. Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said via email on Sunday morning that Carter is day-to-day.
Not only is Carter the Kings' leading scorer with 28 points, but an extended absence would further expose the team's inadequate depth up the middle. The Kings' top two centers, Carter and Anze Kopitar, have combined for 21 goals, while their next two centers, Nick Shore and Andy Andreoff, have combined for four goals this season.
If all goes well, Carter could join his teammates later during a trip that continues through Western Canada. After Monday's game at Vancouver, the Kings face two more division rivals, the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday and the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
It was unclear how Carter sustained the injury but it appeared as though there was some contact with Coyotes center Antoine Vermette on the opening faceoff.
The other boost for the Kings came in regard to defenseman Jake Muzzin, who received a match penalty in the third period of their 4-3 overtime win at Arizona. Muzzin was assessed a five-minute major and match penalty for a check to the head of the Coyotes' Boyd Gordon.
Kings Coach Darryl Sutter took issue with the call, saying to reporters afterward that he "totally disagreed" with it. "It was a hockey play," Sutter said. "It's not even a penalty."
A match penalty triggers an automatic suspension but a league official told The Times that there would be no hearing and no additional discipline for Muzzin. There was no word yet on whether the match penalty, in fact, would be rescinded.
KINGS AT VANCOUVER
When: Monday, 7 p.m.
On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 790.
Update: Vancouver's Henrik Sedin did not practice on Sunday and Canucks Coach Willie Desjardins told reporters he would know more about Sedin's status on Monday. The Canucks on Sunday called up defenseman Ashton Sautner from their American Hockey League affiliate in Utica (N.Y.).
