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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -The Los Angeles Kings, playing without their top two goalies, claimed veteran Sean Burke off waivers Thursday from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Burke, who turns 40 later this month, had a 14-10-4 record with a 2.80 goals-against average in 35 games for Tampa Bay last season. He became expendable when the Lightning acquired Marc Denis and Johan Holmqvist in the offseason, and has a 4.52 goals-against average in seven games for Springfield of the American Hockey League this season.

Burke, who made his NHL debut with New Jersey in the 1987-88 season, has a 318-331-105 record and a 2.95 GAA in 797 career games with seven NHL teams.

Dan Cloutier, acquired by the Kings from Vancouver last summer and given a two-year, $6.2 million contract extension, underwent hip surgery last Friday and is sidelined indefinitely. He has a 6-14-2 record in 24 games and ranks last in the NHL with a 3.98 GAA.

Mathieu Garon figured to get the bulk of the playing time with Cloutier sidelined, but he was placed on the injured list last Friday because of a broken finger. No timetable has been set for his return. He is 8-7-3 with a 2.80 GAA in 20 games.

The Kings entered Thursday night's game against the St. Louis Blues with a Western Conference-low 38 points.