Kings' Dion Phaneuf: Unable to avoid IR stint

Phaneuf (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Phaneuf is week-to-week with his injury. The Kings shifted the veteran defenseman to injured reserve in order to free up a spot on the roster for forward Illya Kovalchuk, who had been on the IR himself with an ankle injury but is ready to rock against the Sharks on Saturday.