Kings’ Corey Perry returns after leave of absence
The Los Angeles Kings have announced that forward Corey Perry will be returning to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers after a leave of absence.
The @LAKings announce the following roster transactions:
– Forward Corey Perry has been activated from non-roster designation.
– Forward Anze Kopitar has been placed on injured reserve (IR).
– Forward Cole Guttman has been loaned to the @ontarioreign. pic.twitter.com/4ulxe8rJMO
Perry had missed the last two games while attending an illness within his family. He was on non-roster designation in the meantime, but has been activated from it to return to the lineup. The Kings lost both games in his absence, losing 4-3 in overtime to the San Jose Sharks and 5-1 to the Winnipeg Jets.
Perry is projected to play on the second line alongside Alex Laferriere and Taylor Ward. This trio has yet to play together this season.
Perry also missed six games earlier this season, but that was due to a knee injury. When he’s been in the lineup, he’s been excellent considering the stage of his career, as he has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 35 games.
To make room for Perry on the roster, Anze Kopitar was placed on injured reserve. The Kings’ captain has also missed the last two games after sustaining a lower-body injury during Monday’s 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. Unless Kopitar’s IR placement is retroactive to Monday, which the Kings did not clarify, it means that he will miss the next four games.
Kopitar has struggled in his final season in the NHL more than usual for his standards, as he has just six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 37 games this season, which has him on pace to finish below the 50-point plateau for the first time in a full season in his 20-season NHL career.
The Kings have also assigned Cole Guttman to their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Guttman did not draw into a game while on the NHL roster, but has nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 31 games in the AHL.
The Kings currently sit in fifth in the Pacific Division with an 18-15-10 record, and are one point behind the Utah Mammoth for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles will look to rebound from back-to-back losses when they visit the Oilers on Saturday at 7 p.m. PST.