"On the first day of the rest of the Kings' season, club executives decided against summoning a replacement for center Anze Kopitar, who broke his right ankle Saturday and is expected to be out at least six weeks.

Coach Terry Murray said Sunday he conferred with General Manager Dean Lombardi and assistant GM Ron Hextall and they resolved to "hold the course" and give expanded roles to players like fourth-line center Trevor Lewis.

Kopitar was injured during the second period of the Kings' 4-1 victory over Colorado. Lewis played well between Ryan Smyth and Dustin Brown, setting up one goal and scoring another.

"It's an opportunity especially for a player like Lewis who's going to have more ice time and a more responsible situation," Murray said Sunday. "It's going to be good for him, a good challenge, and I hope he responds."

Another factor is the Kings' Manchester (N.H.) affiliate has been thinned by injuries. Center Andrei Loktionov had season-ending shoulder surgery and center/winger Marc-Andre Cliche has an injured thumb. "We might not fit the description of the role any better than with what we have with our roster right now," Murray said.

Top prospect Brayden Schenn isn't available to the Kings now. The agreement between the NHL and Canadian junior leagues stipulates Schenn can't be recalled until the season ends for his junior team, and his Saskatoon Blades are expected to go far in the playoffs."