By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
The Los Angeles Kings, who seemingly turned the corner toward making the playoffs, would have to start the postseason without their top two scorers.
After losing No. 2 scorer Justin Williams on Monday to a dislocated shoulder, the Kings lost No. 1 scorer Anze Kopitar to a broken ankle in a 4-1 win vs. the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. Kopitar has 25 goals and 48 assists, meaning he was involved in 35.2% of the Kings' goals this season. Coach Terry Murray told news reporters after the game that Kopitar will be out a minimum of six weeks.
Other key injuries during the weekend:
?The Buffalo Sabres say defenseman Jordan Leopold will be out the rest of the regular season with a broken hand, suffered Friday night. His playoff availability is undetermined.
?Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard left Saturday's game vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs with a shoulder sprain, but he could be back by Wednesday.
?Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis left Sunday's game when he hit his head on the ice after a collision with teammate Kevin Bieksa and Columbus Blue Jackets winger Rick Nash.
Key games this week
?Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (Tuesday): The Penguins are two points behind the Flyers in the Atlantic Division, thanks to four consecutive wins by shootout, an NHL first. Non-shootout wins are the first tiebreaker, and the Penguins trail by six, so they'd have to finish a point ahead of the Flyers to win the division.
?Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames (Wednesday): The Ducks and Flames are among the teams fighting for the final spots in the West. The Ducks are on a 7-2 run and Corey Perry has moved into the league goal-scoring lead with 44.
?Red Wings at Nashville Predators (Saturday): The Predators entered the week with a six-game winning streak. They trailed the Red Wings by five points in the Central.
The Los Angeles Kings, who seemingly turned the corner toward making the playoffs, would have to start the postseason without their top two scorers.
After losing No. 2 scorer Justin Williams on Monday to a dislocated shoulder, the Kings lost No. 1 scorer Anze Kopitar to a broken ankle in a 4-1 win vs. the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. Kopitar has 25 goals and 48 assists, meaning he was involved in 35.2% of the Kings' goals this season. Coach Terry Murray told news reporters after the game that Kopitar will be out a minimum of six weeks.
Other key injuries during the weekend:
?The Buffalo Sabres say defenseman Jordan Leopold will be out the rest of the regular season with a broken hand, suffered Friday night. His playoff availability is undetermined.
?Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard left Saturday's game vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs with a shoulder sprain, but he could be back by Wednesday.
?Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis left Sunday's game when he hit his head on the ice after a collision with teammate Kevin Bieksa and Columbus Blue Jackets winger Rick Nash.
Key games this week
?Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (Tuesday): The Penguins are two points behind the Flyers in the Atlantic Division, thanks to four consecutive wins by shootout, an NHL first. Non-shootout wins are the first tiebreaker, and the Penguins trail by six, so they'd have to finish a point ahead of the Flyers to win the division.
?Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames (Wednesday): The Ducks and Flames are among the teams fighting for the final spots in the West. The Ducks are on a 7-2 run and Corey Perry has moved into the league goal-scoring lead with 44.
?Red Wings at Nashville Predators (Saturday): The Predators entered the week with a six-game winning streak. They trailed the Red Wings by five points in the Central.
