No timetable set for Doughty; five games added to Kings’ TV schedule
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Greetings from Chicago, where even the locals consider this a windy day …
To me, the most important news from Wednesday’s morning skate didn’t occur on the ice but in a conversation with General Manager Dean Lombardi.
Defenseman Drew Doughty, who suffered a concussion last Wednesday in a collision with Carolina’s Erik Cole, experienced what Lombardi called ‘minor symptoms’ the other day. Lombardi said a few days ago that Doughty experienced post-concussion symptoms on Saturday, though the 20-year-old has continued to skate in Los Angeles during the team’s five-game trip.
But now Lombardi says Doughty is doubtful for Saturday’s game against New Jersey at Staples Center. The Kings had hoped Doughty might return Thursday at Dallas but that was ruled out. [updated at 3:20 p.m.]
After the Devils game, the Kings don’t play again until next Thursday.
‘He was OK the other day and then I guess there were minor symptoms,’ Lombardi said. ‘It’s just so hard to tell. All I can say is he’s not going to be ready for Dallas. It’s not practical.
‘We’ll probably know about New Jersey today. We might be able to [wait on deciding] until tomorrow.’
As soon as there’s an update, I’ll pass it along.
A few more notes: Jonathan Bernier will start in goal tonight and Jonathan Quick will start at Dallas. The fourth line against Chicago will be Kyle Clifford, Andrei Loktionov and Trevor Lewis.
‘Back-to-back games. I want to play four lines more in this game tonight,’ Coach Terry Murray said of his reasons for the decision.
‘Chicago’s doing the same thing. They’re rolling out their lines and we’ll want to be able to match it especially with the fact that we’ve got to play tomorrow and it will be a very late night getting in tonight. So trying to save some energy and at the same time pour it all in for a big game here.’
The Kings have added five telecasts to their broadcast schedule and now plan to air all 82 games this season. All five will be on Channel 13, with Bob Miller and Jim Fox at the microphone.
The added games are (with all start times listed in Pacific time):
Nov. 6 vs. Nashville at 7 p.m.
Dec. 18 at Nashville at 5 p.m.
Dec. 29 at Phoenix at 6 p.m.
Feb. 2 at Edmonton at 6 p.m.
March 9 at Detroit at 4:30 p.m.
The Kings on Saturday will pay tribute to former team captain Mattias Norstrom, with a ceremony that will feature a special video to the stalwart Swede who played 780 games with the team and was an all-star in 2004.
Several of his former King teammates are expected to attend the ceremony, including current club executive Luc Robitaille, Rob Blake, Ian Laperriere, Craig Johnson, Glen Murray, Derek Armstrong, Jamie Storr, Mathieu Schneider and Nelson Emerson. The first 10,000 fans will receive a commemorative rally towel, which you can see by clicking www.lakings.com/rallytowel.
More later at www.latimes.com/sports
--Helene Elliott in Chicago