Nolan leaves game early with injury

The Los Angeles Kings lost Jordan Nolan in the second period of their 5-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday night when the forward fell after receiving a shove from Colorado forward Carl Soderberg, which was followed by an awkward exchange with Matt Nieto as he attempted to regain his footing. Shortly after gingerly returning to the bench, Nolan headed down the tunnel towards the Kings’ room and didn’t return to the game. Early in the third period, a team public relations representative told reporters that the injury was a lower-body injury, and that Nolan was questionable to return.

Courtesy @kingsgifs:

Darryl Sutter is not inclined to answer injury queries immediately after games and provided no specifics when asked about the forward’s condition. “He’s in the tub,” Sutter responded. “Did you check on him?”

Nolan’s game has been coming along quite well over the last two months. Coming off an important game-tying goal in Arizona Tuesday night and eight shifts through two periods on Wednesday, the 27-year-old winger has four goals and eight points in 41 games this season while providing energy and secondary production in a role that has been most effective when he has checked and used his size to support a heavy, north-south game.

Whether or not there will be any fallout from the injury could be learned on Thursday from Toyota Sports Center, where the team is scheduled to practice before flying to Philadelphia to begin a four-game road trip that will lead into the club’s bye week from February 10-14. The team has an extra forward in Andy Andreoff, who did not dress on Wednesday, and Tyler Toffoli is on the verge of a return, so the likelihood of any hypothetical call-up is lessened.