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Kings’ morning skate: Bernier recalled on emergency basis because of Ersberg’s back strain; Greene in, Jones out

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Greetings from sunny St. Paul, Minn.

First, some news from the Kings’ morning skate:

Goaltender Jonathan Bernier has been recalled from Manchester of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis to back up Jonathan Quick on Monday night against the Wild and to start Tuesday when the Kings play at Nashville.

Coach Terry Murray said backup Erik Ersberg had strained his back before the Kings’ game against Dallas on Saturday and won’t be available. Bernier, who won a shootout at Dallas on March 12 after being called up on an emergency basis -- the emergency being Quick’s wife going into labor -- was due to arrive in St. Paul on Monday afternoon. Murray said that with back-to-back games and then a long trip back to Los Angeles for a home game Thursday, he wanted Bernier to start against the Predators on Tuesday.

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‘It started right after the Dallas game,’ Murray said of the process of recalling Bernier. ‘Ersberg’s feeling quite a bit better here today. He’s on the ice skating here this morning but I’ve already made the decision and talked to people about playing in Nashville.’

Murray said it hasn’t been decided whether Bernier will accompany the team back to Los Angeles after Tuesday’s game.

Also, defenseman Matt Greene, who missed the previous three games because of an upper-body injury, was scheduled to play against Minnesota. But Randy Jones, who fell and split open the bursa sac near his elbow, won’t play. Peter Harrold is expected to replace him.

The lines for the morning skate were:

Ryan Smyth-Anze Kopitar-Jeff Halpern

Alexander Frolov-Jarret Stoll-Dustin Brown

Fredrik Modin-Michal Handzus-Justin Williams

Scott Parse-Brad Richardson-Wayne Simmonds

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

-- Helene Elliott in St. Paul, Minn.

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