(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Kings will be without their franchise goaltender on Thursday when they continue a four-game road trip against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.
The Kings sent goaltender Jonathan Quick back to California after he suffered a lower-body injury in the opener of this swing Tuesday night in Buffalo. The club sent Quick home to have the injury checked out by team doctors and he will be unavailable for the remainder of the trip. Los Angeles didn't specifically identify what type of injury Quick suffered, but head coach Darryl Sutter said it was "either hamstring or groin-related."
Quick, who exited in overtime of Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss in Buffalo, is 10-5-0 with a 2.35 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and one shutout in 16 games this season.
It's the latest in a string of injuries for the Kings, who are currently playing without forwards Jeff Carter, Kyle Clifford and Matt Greene. Centerman Jarret Stoll also has sat out the last three games, but could return to action tonight.
L.A. had a two-game win streak halted on Tuesday when it became the first road team to lose in Buffalo this season. Matt Moulson and Tyler Ennis both scored in the shootout to help the Sabres notch their first home win with a 3-2 decision.
Quick, who had made 15 saves, exited in the final minute of the bonus period and was replaced by Ben Scrivens, who stopped just one of Buffalo's three participants in the shootout round.
Moulson beat Ben Scrivens through the five hole, and Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller stoned a pair of Kings shooters before Ennis potted the game-winner. Ennis got Scrivens to lean to his left before cutting back over to the opposite side. Scrivens was unable to recover in time and Ennis made him pay.
Los Angeles pushed the game to OT thanks to Dwight King's goal, which made it a 2-2 game with just over 3 1/2 minutes remaining in regulation.
"I think we just came out and didn't capitalize on our chances early, and they stayed in the game, and obviously they won," said Kings winger Tyler Toffoli, who assisted on King's goal.
Justin Williams scored the other goal for the Kings, who fell to 4-3-1 on the road this season.
Scrivens becomes the No. 1 option in net with Quick hurt and the club also recalled Martin Jones from their AHL affiliate in Manchester, N.H. The Kings also recalled forward Tanner Pearson from the Manchester to help bolster their depth up front.
While L.A. tries to get along without Quick, the Isles hope to build off a strong performance by young goaltender Kevin Poulin, who stopped 32 shots on Tuesday to lead New York in a 3-1 victory over visiting Nashville.
New York went 0-4-0 during a four-game road trip, but returned home to record the victory over the Predators. John Tavares posted a goal and an assist while Kyle Okposo and Pierre-Marc Bouchard also scored for the Islanders.
"I thought it was a total team effort" said New York head coach Jack Capuano. "Your best players have to be your best players. I thought the top line was good tonight."
Poulin has started two straight and three of New York's past four games and expects to get the call over veteran Evgeni Nabokov again on Thursday. The 23- year-old Poulin is 2-4-0 with a 2.35 goals against average and .920 save percentage in six games this year, while Nabokov is 5-5-3 with a 3.24 GAA and .894 save percentage.
New York winger Thomas Vanek is dealing with an upper-body injury and he could miss a third straight game on Thursday. Vanek, of course, came over to the Isles late last month in a trade with Buffalo and has started slowly with his new team, posting one goal and two assists in six games.
The Isles have won the last two meetings against L.A. after dropping six straight in the series. Both wins came on home ice and the last meeting between the teams was on Feb. 11, 2012, when New York notched a 2-1 overtime win against the Kings.
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