Dustin Penner (hand) won't play on Monday, but he might be available for Thursday's contest. "I think so," Kings coach Terry Murray said when asked if it was reasonable to think that Penner might play on Thursday. "I think we're going to be very close there, absolutely. Probably, if it came to his decision alone, he would play tonight. But two more days of practice, getting going, feeling more comfortable, getting healthier, it will push him pretty close." Penner is fully participating in the Kings' practices. We'll keep you posted.

Dustin Penner (hand) has been given the okay to fully participate in contact drills. "He's doing all the drills, he's got a normal-colored sweater on, part of a line," Kings coach Terry Murray said. He later added, "The clearance by the doctor yesterday is very encouraging, and now it's getting into the compete drills, the battle drills, and see how he comes out of the day. Then we've got to make a decision." We'll keep you posted.

Dustin Penner (hand) might be given the green light to start participating fully in contact drills after he sees a doctor Saturday night. "He will get an X-ray done at the game tonight, from our doctor, and have an opinion to see if now he can participate in regular practice, get in with contact. We'll see where it goes from there," Kings' coach Terry Murray said. In the meantime, Penner will be forced to sit out of his seventh straight Kings' contest on Saturday.

Dustin Penner (hand) is weeks away from returning according to Kings' coach Terry Murray. Well that's not too encouraging. Last we heard it sounded as if Penner would be out another 10-14 days. We hope you have found a replacement for him as it does not seem as if he will be able to play again until well into December.

Dustin Penner is getting better, but there's still swelling in his injured hand. "Well, that's the trainers' call, I guess, on that one," coach Terry Murray said referring to Penner's status. "He's getting better. He's going to get better every day. There's swelling, and that needs to get taken care of, and then they will see where he's at after the swelling goes down. With the I.R., he's seven days for sure, and then we'll just make a decision after that." Penner is eligible to come off injured reserve on Saturday, but he isn't participating in contact at practice yet.

Dustin Penner has been placed on the injured reserve list with a hand injury. Penner has two points and 25 penalty minutes in 14 games in 2011-12. He hasn't played since November 10th.

Dustin Penner's hard-luck season continues as the Los Angeles Kings placed him on the injured reserve because of his hand injury. Penner will miss at least three games because of his assignment to the IR, meaning that a Nov. 22 road game against the St. Louis Blues would be his next chance to play in a game. It's been a nightmare start for the big forward so far, but maybe a little time on the sidelines will help him out. It's unclear who will take his spot in the Kings' lineup at this time, so stay tuned.

Dustin Penner (hand) will be out of the Kings' lineup on Saturday. Penner is not seriously hurt however he won't be in the lineup. Not much is being reported here and coach Murray is vague. All we can gather he is day-to-day at this point. Brad Richardson will start in his lace.

Struggling Los Angeles Kings winger Dustin Penner notched two helpers in a 4-3 win against the Nashville Predators. Penner scored more points in one game than he had in his previous 12, as he now has three assists in 2011-12. The big forward also earned two penalty minutes, which probably won't help his cause with Terry Murray, but it did reward the incredibly patient fantasy owners who stuck with him. Jarret Stoll and Justin Williams also had a pair of assists on Nov. 8.

Despite profound struggles, there's a chance that the big forward could play alongside Mike Richards and Dustin Brown against the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 7. Dustin Penner's scoring difficulties have been well-publicized, but he's not the only Los Angeles Kings player who isn't scoring as well as expected. Still, you have to wonder how many chances he'll receive before it's decided that he doesn't fit in as a top-six forward. Penner has just one assist in 11 games this season.