Mitchell close, Ponikarovsky ready

In another subtle sign that Willie Mitchell is close to returning to the Kings’ lineup, he apparently took the ice today sans brace. The wrist support that Mitchell had been wearing on the ice in recent days was laying on the ground in front of Mitchell’s locker while Mitchell was on the ice this morning. Terry Murray said Mitchell will be examined again on Thursday, and at that point he could be cleared to play. Murray previously said he doubted Mitchell would be able to play Saturday against Minnesota. Murray said of Mitchell, “I see him out on the ice there today, handling and shooting some pucks, so it’s pretty encouraging to see that.”

Alexei Ponikarovsky appears to be ready to go, though. Ponikarovsky made it through a second consecutive full-team practice without issue today, and Murray pronounced Ponikarovsky ready to return to the Kings’ third line, alongside center Michal Handzus and right winger Wayne Simmonds.

MURRAY: “I’m going to say he will play. He’s holding up very well. His conditioning is outstanding. They’ve been doing a lot of hard skating over the past couple weeks, in that small group skating club. So he’s ready physically, and no question, mentally, he’s been excited about getting back in for the last five or six days. Shooting the puck, handling the puck, he’s doing everything that you ask a forward to do, a player to do, in these practices. In my mind, he’s ready to go.”

Ponikarovsky has two goals in 13 games this season, and Murray was asked today whether he is expecting more production out of a player who has topped 20 goals in four of the last five seasons.

MURRAY: “I am. When he was acquired in the offseason, we were talking upstairs about a 20-, 25-goal scorer. He might have a little bit more of a difficult time, because of the injuries, getting to that number right now, but I think he’s a player that can put up, pretty consistently, some offense. I can’t put a number on where he’s going to be at the end of the year, right now, but he’s got ability. He’s got a great shot. He’s a big body, he goes to the net, he has the right attitude about how to play in the offensive zone and he protects the puck very well on the cycles and takes it to the net. So all of the ingredients are there.”