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Ersberg bruises hand but still scheduled to play Wednesday

By Helene Elliott
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Kings goaltender Erik Ersberg, who is competing with Jonathan Bernier for the backup spot behind Jonathan Quick, left the ice before the end of Monday’s practice because of a bruised left hand.

Coach Terry Murray told reporters that Erbserg had taken a shot to his catching hand on Sunday. “He was just feeling some pain,” Murray said. “Hopefully he’s able to get back on the ice [Tuesday].”

Murray also said Ersberg remains on track to be in net the entire game Wednesday when the Kings open exhibition play against the Colorado Avalanche at Denver. Bernier is scheduled to start Thursday at Phoenix in a split-squad game against the Coyotes and Quick will start the other split-squad game, also against the Coyotes, at Staples Center.

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Murray said he wants the goalies to go the distance in exhibition games, which is unusual. Most coaches split the playing time, but playing the entire game is probably a good test of a goalie’s stamina and sharpness.

--Helene Elliott

Sports Now
Helene Elliott

Helene Elliott was with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports department from 1989 to 2024, first as a staff writer and then, starting in 2006, as a columnist. She became the first female journalist to be honored with a plaque in the Hall of Fame of a major professional sport as the 2005 winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Award, awarded to writers “who have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has covered 18 Olympics.

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