Dowd leaves game with lower-body injury

Center Nic Dowd left Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders in the second period and did not return after suffering what was described by a Kings PR representative as a lower-body injury.

Dowd’s final shift ended with 6:25 remaining in the second period. After skating delicately back to the bench, he engaged in a conversation with Head Athletic Trainer Chris Kingsley before ultimately returning to the dressing room.

There was no clear indication of the severity of the injury, though Darryl Sutter shared more detail on the injury than is often shared shortly after a game.

“I mean, you guys, you saw it,” he said. “I haven’t talked to him. I mean, literally, he tried it and couldn’t go. I couldn’t see where it was because it was down from our bench, so we’ll see. He was walkin’.”

In 42 games this season, Dowd, 26, has four goals, 16 points, a minus-12 rating and two game-winning goals.

Tanner Pearson also appeared to get dinged up with an injury early in a second period power play as he jostled for position in front of the Islanders’ net. A replay by MSG Plus showed Pearson in pain on the bench and Kingsley tending to the winger’s left arm or wrist. Pearson remained in the game and logged a total of 14:38 in the loss.

After practicing at Madison Square Garden on Sunday the Kings will return to action on Monday, when they will face the New York Rangers for the first time this season. More information on Dowd will be provided as it becomes available.

By the Kings’ official count, 143 man-games this season have been lost to injury: Andreoff-15, Brown-2, Clifford-3, Gaborik-21, Kopitar-5, McNabb-26, Quick-45, Toffoli-15 and Zatkoff-11.