Gagne’s injury gives Hunter a chance

Stick around long enough and you’re bound to hear everything. Reporters used to joke that in the land of “upper body’’ and “lower body’’ injuries, eventually a coach would mention a “middle-body’’ injury. Well, Terry Murray did today, in describing what is keeping Simon Gagne out of the lineup tonight. Given that the Kings play again tomorrow, and probably won’t have a morning skate, Gagne’s chances of playing tomorrow probably wouldn’t rate high either, but Terry Murray didn’t rule Gagne out for the Colorado game.

MURRAY: “I don’t know that. I kind of thought he would be, after yesterday and a day off, that he would be ready to go today. It’s just another day of some therapy and maintenance, and hopefully he’s ready to go tomorrow. If he is, he will go right back in. But that’s going to be his call.’’

For now, it’s Trent Hunter replacing Gagne in the lineup and moving into a third-line look with Brad Richardson and Jarret Stoll. Hunter earned a one-year contract after a strong training camp but has been a healthy scratch in six of the Kings’ nine games, including the last four.

MURRAY: “I’m looking for that secondary scoring. Hunter has been out of the lineup for several games now. The one reason why we talked about him and signed him over the offseason was his scoring ability, so I’m hoping that there’s something good that can happen for him in that area tonight.’’