Jonathan Bernier reportedly was the first goalie off the ice at the Los Angeles Kings' morning skate Friday, meaning it's likely Bernier will start against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It would be his first back-to-back starts under coach Darryl Sutter, who talked about the need for better goaltending Thursday.

Jonathan Quick is 1-3-1 in his past five starts and let in some soft goals in his prior start Sunday, including the game-winner in the final seconds against the Detroit Red Wings.

LOS ANGELES -- Jack Johnson has played his former team twice in Ohio, but Friday marks his first game at Staples Center since he was traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the Columbus Blue Jackets -- close to one year ago, on Feb. 23, 2012.

"It's easy, I know where I'm going," Johnson said.

Johnson wasn't drafted by the Kings but he came up through their organization and was seen, along with Drew Doughty, as a mainstay on the franchise's blue line. He was a fan favorite because of his hard-hitting play and booming shot. Kings fans used to shout an R-rated cheer in his honor.

But Johnson was traded, along with a 2013 first-round draft pick, to the Blue Jackets for Jeff Carter, a move that helped the Kings win the first Stanley Cup in their 45-year history.

LOS ANGELES -- The Columbus Blue Jackets are without defenseman James Wisniewski, but they will gain another big part of their defense Friday.

Adrian Aucoin will return from a lower-body injury that has kept him out since Jan. 29. Coach Todd Richards confirmed that Aucoin will be paired with Jack Johnson when the team hits the ice against the Los Angeles Kings.

Aucoin, 39, typically doesn't log huge minutes, but Richards likes the intangibles and the stability Aucoin supplies.

"It's Adrian's presence -- his presence out on the ice and his presence in the locker room," Richards said. "I think that really helps our group out."

CALGARY, Alberta -- Summoned yesterday from the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League, Roman Horak is ready to slide back into the Calgary Flames lineup when they host the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday night.

Horak, who played two games with the Flames to start the season, was recalled in place of Paul Byron, who suffered a fractured left hand just 2:51 into his first NHL game of the season.

"Obviously I was happy," Horak said. "On the other side, it's too bad for the club when guys get injured, but that's part of the game. Like I said, I was happy to be here and I appreciate the call."

The 21-year-old is expected to take Byron's spot between Curtis Glencross and captain Jarome Iginla.

"If I actually get the chance to play with those guys, it will be a big honor for me and hopefully we can click right off the start," Horak said.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- This time Ryan Kesler left no doubt he was back.

After being evasive and playing coy following his first full practice the day before, the Vancouver Canucks' Selke Trophy-winning center declared himself ready to return Friday night against the visiting Dallas Stars. Kesler hasn't played in almost 10 months after undergoing shoulder surgery in May then needing a wrist operation in June.

"I flipped AV's coin out there on the ice and it said I was, so I think I'll be playing," Kelser said, joking in reference to coach Alain Vigneault's ongoing gag about using a coin to choose his starting goalie. "It's been a long road, so for it to finally be here is pretty exciting."

CALGARY, Alberta -- Jake Allen will make his second consecutive start when the St. Louis Blues visit Scotiabank Saddledome to take on the Calgary Flames on Friday night.

Allen won his first career NHL start Wednesday in the Blues' 4-3 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings, snapping a five-game losing streak.

"It was a good feeling, especially getting off that slump we were on," Allen said. "Hopefully we can turn things around after the game. It was a big win. It was big for me. It was a good confidence boost."

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Matt Cooke has taken a heavy barrage of criticism for his involvement in the injury sustained by Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson on Wednesday.

Cooke's left skate sliced Karlsson's left Achilles tendon during a puck battle along the boards, ending the reigning Norris Trophy winner's season. Karlsson underwent surgery Thursday and faces a lengthy rehabilitation period. Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and general manager Bryan Murray have expressed their displeasure with Cooke, whose disciplinary history makes leaves him vulnerable to such rebukes.

No penalty was called on the play, and the NHL Department of Player Safety saw no need to assess supplemental discipline.

Cooke expressed his regret about the incident Friday after the Penguins conducted their morning skate at MTS Centre. Cooke said he had reached out to Karlsson via a text message.

"Whether or not he responds to me, I understand," Cooke said. "At the end of the day, it was a freak, unfortunate accident and I can't control anything else but that. I obviously felt bad about the cut and just hope that he has a fast recovery. I know it's not fast, but as fast as possible."

Cooke also adopted a non-confrontational tone in regard to Melnyk's criticism and chose not to offer his feelings on the comments that have been directed toward him since the game Wednesday.

The Colorado Avalanche announced Friday that goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere will leave the team for a couple of days due to personal reasons.

Giguere is scheduled to rejoin the team Sunday. In the meantime, goalie Calvin Pickard has been recalled from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis.

The New York Rangers announced Friday that the team has returned forward Chris Kreider to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League.

Kreider, who wasn't in the lineup Thursday for the Rangers' 4-3 shootout loss to the Islanders, has one goal and two points in seven games this season.

Here are the expected lineups when the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings meet Friday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit:

DUCKS

Kyle Palmieri - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry

Bobby Ryan - Peter Holland - Teemu Selanne

Andrew Cogliano - Saku Koivu - Daniel Winnik

Patrick Maroon - Nick Bonino - Matt Beleskey

Sheldon Souray - Francois Beauchemin

Luca Sbisa - Toni Lydman

Bryan Allen - Ben Lovejoy

Viktor Fasth

Jeff Deslauriers

Scratched: Brad Staubitz, Nate Guenin

Injured: Cam Fowler, Jonas Hiller

RED WINGS

Daniel Cleary - Pavel Datsyuk - Valtteri Filppula

Justin Abdelkader - Henrik Zetterberg - Damien Brunner

Drew Miller - Cory Emmerton - Jordin Tootoo

Tomas Tatar - Joakim Andersson - Patrick Eaves

Niklas Kronwall - Brian Lashoff

Jonathan Ericsson - Ian White

Kyle Quincey - Jakub Kindl

Jimmy Howard

Peter Mrazek

Scratched: Gustav Nyquist, Kent Huskins

Injured: Todd Bertuzzi, Jonas Gustavsson, Brendan Smith, Carlo Colaiacovo, Mikael Samuelsson, Johan Franzen, Darren Helm