Carter `should be good to go’

Jeff Carter is expected to return to the Kings’ lineup tonight, on the second line with Mike Richards and Dwight King. Carter missed the final five games because of an ankle injury, but has made it through a few days of full-team practices. Carter will play tonight with an extra guard around his ankle, but otherwise seems ready to play. After today’s morning skate, he faced a sizable media scrum in the Kings’ locker room…

CARTER: “I’m feeling good, so I should be good to go.’’

Question: How excited are you?

CARTER: “It’s always exciting. This is what you play 82 games for, to have a chance to play in the playoffs and win a Stanley Cup, so it’s going to be fun.’’

Question: Is the ankle 100 percent?

CARTER: “It feels good.’’

Question: They brought you in here to help the offense. How much pressure do you feel to perform in the playoffs?

CARTER: “There’s a little bit of pressure. There’s pressure on everybody in this (locker) room to come out and perform. I’ll try to get out there and help the team win.’’

Question: What do you think you can bring, in terms of playoff experience, to a team that hasn’t won a lot in the playoffs?

CARTER: “It’s always good to have that experience. We have a lot of guys in this room that have had some success in the playoffs, a few Stanley Cups and some Finals appearances. It always helps.’’