Scoring-challenged Kings recall pair from Manchester; Stoll on IR
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Another look at the most-anemic offense in the league -- coupled with an injury to forward Jarret Stoll -- happened to be enough for the Kings to finally swing into action on Friday.
They recalled forwards Dwight King and Jordan Nolan from their American Hockey League affiliate in Manchester, and assigned struggling defenseman Slava Voynov to Manchester. Additionally, Stoll was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
Stoll, who was apparently injured in the third period of Thursday’s loss at Florida, has five goals and 10 assists in 55 games and one point in his last 10 games. His last goal was on Jan. 9 against Washington. The injury ends his streak of 177 consecutive games played.
Stoll is hardly the only struggling Kings’ forward. He was a minus-two against the Panthers and center Mike Richards was a minus-three in that game.
Voynov has been scratched the last three games on this trip and has not played since Feb. 3 at St. Louis.
In 20 of 55 games this season, the Kings have scored one goal or less.
The Kings have been closely monitoring the progress of King and Nolan. Coach Darryl Sutter watched them play during the All-Star break and, more recently, Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi has been on hand to evaluate Manchester. Both King and Nolan are 22 years old.
King has 29 points in 50 games this season with Manchester, and he appeared in six games with the Kings last season.
Nolan, the son of former NHL coach Ted Nolan, will be making his NHL debut. Ted Nolan coached the Sabres for two seasons and the Islanders for two seasons. The Kings play at the Islanders on Saturday.
Nolan has 22 points in 40 games with the Monarchs this season.
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-- Lisa Dillman
