Kings lose Richardson to appendectomy

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Los Angeles Kings center Brad Richardson is out indefinitely after an appendectomy.

Coach Darryl Sutter made the announcement Tuesday before the Kings flew to Vancouver. Game 1 of the Kings' opening playoff series against the Canucks is Wednesday.

Richardson had five goals and three assists in 59 games as a forward for the eighth-seeded Kings. He had an appendectomy Monday after a few days of abdominal pain.

The Kings recalled center Andrei Loktionov from their AHL affiliate in Manchester, N.H., to fill in for Richardson. Loktionov had seven points in 39 games with Los Angeles this season.

Kings forward Jeff Carter has returned to practice after missing Los Angeles' last five regular-season games with an ankle injury. He intends to play in Game 1 in Vancouver.

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