December 9 morning skate notes

Hello again from the First Niagara Center, where the Kings are taking part in the first morning skate of their five-game road trip.

Lines and pairings from today’s skate:

Gaborik – Kopitar – Williams
Pearson – Carter – Toffoli
Brown – Stoll – Lewis
King – Richards – Nolan
Clifford

Muzzin – Doughty
Regehr – Martinez
McNabb – Greene
McBain

Notes:

-Marian Gaborik appears ready to return to Los Angeles’ lineup after a four-game absence. This isn’t a major surprise; he skated opposite Justin Williams on Anze Kopitar’s line at Sunday’s practice.

-Kyle Clifford skated as an extra, so it appears likely that the coaching staff will give him an extra day to recover from the flu. Jordan Nolan should remain in the lineup, which would mean he’ll face his father for the second time of his career. There are buses transporting a large contingent of his friends and family from nearby St. Catharine’s, Ontario to tonight’s game.

-Jonathan Quick left the ice first at the morning skate and is expected to start against the Sabres.