Good morning from El Segundo, where the Kings held an optional morning skate in advance of tonight’s game against the Anaheim Ducks. Darryl Sutter and Jonathan Quick were among the handful of those who opted to stay off the ice, so John Stevens, Davis Payne and Bill Ranford ran practice and no real line rushes were held. Quick will be projected as tonight’s starter against first place Anaheim (7:30 p.m. / NBCSN).
Notes:
-Alec Martinez continues to skate with the team, though he remained on the ice for extra work with Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Price, so it’s unlikely that he returns to action tonight. Saturday’s home game against Vancouver and Monday’s road trip opener in New Jersey remain more likely targets for a Martinez return.
-Tanner Pearson did not join the team late in the skate. He has been skating every other day, a rhythm that is going to increase in frequency as he nears a potential [very] late-season return.
-Ducks news: John Gibson is in, as is Tomas Fleischmann. Jiri Sekac and Sami Vatanen are likely out. The Ducks are focused on their own game but aware they’ll face a Kings team in “desperation mode,” writes Eric Stephens.
-Darryl Sutter quotes will follow, as will stories on Drew Doughty and the team’s focus against Anaheim.
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