FLAMES (26-29-3) at KINGS (34-20-4)
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS-W, SNF, NHL.TV
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Center Anze Kopitar likely will return to the lineup for the Los Angeles Kings when they play the Calgary Flames on Tuesday at Staples Center.
Kopitar took line rushes with left wing Milan Lucic and right wing Dustin Brown at the Kings' practice facility here. It was his second straight day practicing after he missed the Kings' game Saturday against the Nashville Predators because of a lower-body injury. His return would help the Kings get re-organized down the middle against Calgary's top three centers, Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund and Sam Bennett.
"We're playing a team that's really good down the middle of the ice," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "They're really good young centermen. The difference between Nashville and Calgary I'd say is down the middle of the ice. … Calgary [has] three pretty good young guys and a checking fourth guy. That would be the challenge for [Kopitar] to take the challenge of Monahan, Bennett, Backlund."
Calgary left wing Micheal Ferland was not in the line rushes at the Flames' skate at Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to Sportsnet. It would be the first time he is scratched since Oct. 25-26. Defenseman Kris Russell reportedly practiced but remains unavailable because of an upper-body injury.
The Flames reportedly will start Joni Ortio in goal after goalie Jonas Hiller allowed five goals against the Anaheim Ducks last Sunday. It will be Ortio's first NHL start since Oct. 30. He relieved Hiller against Anaheim.
"We told [Ortio], 'Go hard at practice. Make sure you're showing us you want some starts,'" Calgary coach Bob Hartley told the Calgary Sun. "And he's been awesome."
Here are the projected lineups:
FLAMES
Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Jiri Hudler
Joe Colborne - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik
Brandon Bollig - Sam Bennett - Josh Jooris
Lance Bouma - Matt Stajan - David Jones
Mark Giordano - TJ Brodie
Deryk Engelland - Dougie Hamilton
Tyler Wotherspoon - Jakub Nakladal
Joni Ortio
Jonas Hiller
Injured: Kris Russell (upper body), Karri Ramo (knee), Ladislav Smid (upper body)
Scratched: Micheal Ferland
Suspended: Dennis Wideman
KINGS
Milan Lucic - Anze Kopitar - Dustin Brown
Dwight King - Jeff Carter - Tyler Toffoli
Tanner Pearson - Vincent Lecavalier - Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford - Nick Shore - Andy Andreoff
Jake Muzzin - Drew Doughty
Alec Martinez - Luke Schenn
Brayden McNabb - Jamie McBain
Injured: Marian Gaborik (knee), Matt Greene (shoulder)
Scratched: Jordan Nolan, Kevin Gravel
Status report: Quick was the first Kings goalie off the ice. … Nolan and Gravel stayed out as extras for the Kings.
Who's hot: Gaudreau has a four-game point streak, and four goals and four assists in six career games against the Kings. … Backlund has goals in three straight games. … Doughty has five assists in his past five games.
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