January 17 morning skate notes

Notes from today’s morning skate in El Segundo:

-It was an optional skate. All players were present and accounted for other than Jeff Carter and Martin Jones. Carter took the option and is expected to play tonight. Jones, on the other hand, wasn’t feeling too hot this morning. The Kings play the Anaheim Ducks tonight; with Rob Blake’s jersey retirement ceremony, the puck drop is expected to take place at 8:08 p.m.

Sutter indicated that Martin Jones was a little sick this morning. Not mono. DS: “Hopefully we only need one (goalie).”

— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) January 17, 2015

Expect Jonathan Quick to start in net. Because it wasn’t a full group, line rush-type drills were meaningless. Lines shown at yesterday’s practice are likely to apply for tonight’s game.

-Nick Shore is expected to make his NHL debut tonight. His parents, who recently took in his brother Drew’s debut with the Calgary Flames, will be in attendance tonight. “I definitely think there’s a little bit of nerves going into tonight, it being my first game,” Shore said. “Just try to put that into some positive energy and hopefully get off to a good start.”

Sutter acknowledged Shore’s level temperament. “I don’t think he’s going to get too flustered or any of those things.” The challenge instead, per Sutter, will be facing a physical team, one of the league’s tougher teams down the middle of the ice.

-Tyler Toffoli continues to make progress, and I’ll have a story on him this afternoon. He skated with tonight’s projected scratches; don’t expect him back in the lineup in the short term.

-Speaking of tonight’s scratches, Robyn Regehr (hand / injured reserve) remained on the ice with Andy Andreoff and Jamie McBain, and the trio, as noted, was joined by Toffoli. It appears as though Regehr’s return to the lineup will have to wait another game.

-There is currently a game between (what appears to be) a Dallas Jr. Stars team and a San Jose Jr. Sharks squad. There’s a player with a Nieuwendyk namebar who wears #25 for the Dallas team. It’s a typical Saturday at Toyota Sports Center.