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Lombardi: ‘No structural damage, no setback’ for Kings’ Mitchell

willie-mitchell-getty

L.A. Kings defenceman Willie Mitchell is medically cleared to play, following knee surgery during the lockout.

But the decision to step back into the Kings’ lineup remains up to him.

On Monday, the 35-year-old Mitchell underwent an MRI, according to Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times.

“There was no structural damage and no setback,” Kings general manager Dean Lombardi was quoted as saying Tuesday in the L.A. Times.

The fact Mitchell has been given medical clearance to play, but has chosen to not to dress seems to have caused some friction with head coach Darryl Sutter.

Not one for passing out long, cliched answers to the media, Sutter said of Mitchell’s absence from the lineup that he’s “not a doctor or a psychologist.”

The Kings are coming off a come-from-behind 3-2 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks - the same team an underdog L.A. squad beat out in the first round of the 2012 playoffs on the way to a Stanley Cup - and will host the Nashville Predators on Thursday.