Vopat Scheduled for Back Surgery

Rookie defenseman Jan Vopat’s painful lower back--a herniated disk in the lumbar region--has not improved and he will have surgery this morning at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood.

A King spokesmen said Vopat will be out up to 12 weeks, keeping him sidelined until mid-January just before the All-Star break. Initially, Vopat felt pain and discomfort in the area during training camp but played through it and appeared in the season opener on Oct. 4. But once he felt pain traveling down his leg, he was not allowed to practice and tried to alleviate the condition with a series of anti-inflammatory shots.

Back specialist Robert Watkins will perform the surgery. The procedure involves trimming off the protruding portion of the disk, the Kings said. Under ideal circumstances, Vopat could be back in the lineup within six weeks. “I’m pretty nervous and pretty scared,� Vopat said Monday from his home in Los Angeles. “I had back problems last season and during the summer. But I never had leg pain. I think because of leg pain, I have to have surgery.�

Vopat said it is worse when he sits up, saying: “It’s more comfortable laying down. I think I can be back after two months, depending on how it’s going to be.�

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Another player sidelined because of a herniated disk in his lower back, left wing Barry Potomski, will try a conservative approach of medication, rest and therapy for the next two weeks and will be re-evaluated.

Potomski, who has two goals in six games, has missed the last two games.