No structural or ligament damage to Jeff Carter’s ankle

The news could have been much worse for the Kings, but they dodged a more serious injury threat when tests on Jeff Carter’s ankle revealed no fractures or ligament damage.

Carter’s MRI exam on Monday showed a deep bone bruise, according to Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi. With three games left in the regular season, the forward remains day to day.

It will be all about how Carter manages the continuing discomfort. Unfortunately, for Carter, he is used to that sort of thing, having had a variety of injuries in his NHL career. After tonight, the Kings host the Sharks on Thursday and play at San Jose on Saturday, the regular-season finale.

“This a painful thing,� Lombardi said Monday afternoon. “But we’re not dealing with a structural problem or ligament damage. Those are the two things you worry about the most.�

Carter hurt his ankle Wednesday in the third period against the Flames and he said adrenaline got him through the final minutes in Calgary. He was on crutches and in a walking boot after suffering the injury, but Kings Coach Darryl Sutter indicated that there was some improvement.

“It really doesn’t have any impact other than we miss him in the lineup,� Sutter said Monday after the morning skate. “What the (test) results are really doesn’t matter, right? It’s getting better. We’re not going to amputate, I don’t think. Or anything like that.�

That’s the unpredictability of Sutter. You just never know what Sutter is going to say next –- something tongue-in-cheek or a subtle zinger.

He talked about managing forward Brad Richardson, who got into the lineup when Carter got hurt. Richardson, who is playing on a line with center Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, scored twice against Minnesota and had a handful of scoring chances against Edmonton.

“I said, ‘How many top chances did you have?’� Sutter said of the Oilers’ game. “He (Richardson) said, ‘Three or four.’ I said, ‘No, you had four. Not three or four. So you’ve got to score.’ You get those chances playing there -- otherwise you’re hurting our team. He could have had three at Minnesota. If you ask him, he had two. But he should have had three.

“That’s how you’ve got to look at it. OK is not OK. We’re trying to make the playoffs. We’re trying to make everyone get better. OK is not OK.�

Sounds like the makings of good bumper sticker.

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No structural or ligament damage to Jeff Carter’s ankle