Clifford: “I feel like I’m ready to go”

Though head coach Darryl Sutter was not available to confirm the left wing’s status prior to Saturday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, Kyle Clifford professed his game readiness in his attempt to rejoin the team’s lineup.

“Good to get my feet back under me, and I’m just ready to go,” Clifford said.

Clifford hinted that the injury he suffered in the November 9 win over Vancouver – officially reported by the team as an upper-body injury – could be a concussion. He did not join the team on last week’s east coast road trip and has missed the last six games.

“It was pretty mild, so it was a quick recovery,” he said in regards to any lingering effects of the nature of his injury. “Those are positive things.”

He is still on injured reserve, meaning a player transaction would be required to clear space for him on the active roster. One option would be to place goaltender Jonathan Quick on injured reserve. No move had been made by noon, Saturday.

“I feel like I’m ready to go,” he said.

Clifford, on whether he watched the road games on television:
Yeah, didn’t miss a shift. Obviously you want to try and stay in it as much as you can. Just watching the games gives you an opportunity to keep up with the system and what we’re doing.

Clifford, on how closely he followed the games on television:
I was definitely fist pumping when the boys scored, and when we’re winning it’s happy. It’s different watching the game from home and the boys are on the road. You definitely feel out of it, almost.

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Jeff Carter took part in today’s optional morning skate and remained on the ice for extra work with Jordan Nolan and Martin Jones. Carter, who was described on Wednesday as “day-to-day” by Darryl Sutter and as “doubtful” yesterday for tonight’s game, is unlikely to play tonight. Should he be ready to rejoin the lineup, another roster move would be required for the forward who remains on injured reserve and has missed the last nine games with a broken foot. The Kings are 6-1-2 in his absence.