Report: Kings' Williams out three-to-four weeks

Tuesday, 03.22.2011 / 3:34 PM NHL.com
The Los Angeles Kings gained a critical two points Monday night against the Calgary Flames, but the loss they sustained could have a bigger impact.

Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider first reported that Williams has a dislocated shoulder after being checked into the boards by Calgary's Robyn Regehr in the middle of the third period during a 2-1 victory.

Helene Elliott of the Los Angles Times reported Williams will rehab the shoulder for three-to-four weeks before making a decision on what would be season-ending surgery. Elliott said Williams might try to wear a harness and play in the playoffs if he can regain enough strength in his shoulder.

Williams is second on the Kings with 57 points this season and third in goals with 22. He has spent much of this season on a productive second line with Jarrett Stoll and Ryan Smyth.

Hammond also reports the Kings have recalled Oscar Moller from Manchester of the American Hockey League to replace Williams on the roster. Moller was a second-round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft who has 12 goals and 25 points in 78 career NHL games.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Swedish forward has 1 goal and 3 points in four games with the Kings this season. He also has 23 goals and 50 points for the Monarchs in 59 AHL games.

Losing Williams could also put more pressure on new addition Dustin Penner, who has 2 goals and 6 points in 10 games since joining the club from Edmonton at the trade deadline. Another promising young forward, Andrei Loktionov, is out for the season because of a shoulder injury. The Kings also lost veteran forward Marco Sturm on waivers to Washington.

Los Angeles moved into fifth place in the Western Conference with the win against the Flames on Monday. The Kings are four points behind San Jose in the race for the Pacific Division title and three points in front of Anaheim, Nashville and Calgary -- the three teams currently in eighth, ninth and 10th place in the conference.

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