Nolan placed on IR

The Los Angeles Kings have placed forward Jordan Nolan on injured reserve, a hockey operations source confirmed to LA Kings Insider prior to the game against the Washington Capitals on Sunday. Nolan, who has four goals, eight points, a minus-two rating and 44 penalty minutes in 41 games, pulled a muscle in the 5-0 win over Colorado on Wednesday, according to Darryl Sutter. Lisa Dillman of NHL.com noted that the injury “appears to be a leg muscle;” the Kings had deemed it a “lower-body” injury when he did not return to Wednesday’s game after getting tangled up with Matt Nieto and Carl Soderberg in the third period.

“We’ll see. Give him a couple days and he won’t be with us at the start of the trip,” Darryl Sutter said on Thursday. “It’s disappointing when a guy – we have six or seven forwards in our group, and we’re seeing who can stay in the lineup in the last month. He’s been able to stay in the lineup now, and a silly little injury takes him out.”

By forging a strong performance in recent weeks, Nolan had earned himself a leg up on those with whom he competes with for ice time. His four goals are the most he has scored since potting six in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, while his eight points are two points off his career-high. Adhering to his north-south tendencies laced with hints of skill, he has found his success this season when forechecking and providing hard minutes in an energy role.

With the roster move, the Kings have 22 active players. Forward Andy Andreoff and defenseman Paul LaDue were not in uniform for Los Angeles’ 5-0 loss to Washington on Sunday. The Kings are scheduled to practice at Amalie Arena early Monday afternoon, and more on his condition – and whether he may join the club at the end of this trip – could be learned then. Los Angeles plays games at Tampa Bay on Tuesday and at Florida on Thursday before returning home for their five-day, league-mandated break in the schedule.