ST. LOUIS -- It was inevitable that Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick was going to get healthy again from a groin injury. There was going to come a time when the organization was going to have to make a choice: Ben Scrivens or Martin Jones as Quick's backup.

And with the Kings' trade of Scrivens to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Los Angeles placed its faith in Jones, who marked his NHL arrival by winning his first eight starts.

Jones, who is 8-3-0 with a 1.41 goals-against average and .950 save percentage in 11 games, was recalled from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League on Wednesday and hopes that this time it's for good.

"I'm happy to be back here but you never know what can happen," Jones said. "I don't want to take anything for granted. I've just got to make sure I continue to work hard, continue to build up my game and win some hockey games up here.

NEW YORK -- When the Detroit Red Wings play the New York Rangers on Thursday at Madison Square Garden, they'll look markedly different from the last time they came to the Big Apple on March 21, 2012.

A number of key veterans, including Pavel Datsyuk, Daniel Alfredsson and Johan Franzen, did not skate Thursday and will not play at MSG. With so many injuries the Red Wings have relied on their prospects, a number of whom won the Calder Cup last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The latest of those prospects to arrive in the NHL is 21-year-old Tomas Jurco, who was recalled from Grand Rapids on Tuesday after an earlier seven-game NHL stint.

"There's lots of stuff I learn every day," Jurco said. "One of them is consistency. Just to be good every night. Even if there is no game just to be great at practice."

Jurco said having so many familiar faces in the room has made adjusting to the League that much easier.

"It's good for me," he said. "I'm used to all those guys being my teammates for the last couple of years. It's good to have them here. It makes me feel a little more comfortable."

TAMPA -- After missing 22 games with back spasms, veteran defenseman Radek Martinek will return to the New York Islanders lineup when they play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

His addition counters the loss of Travis Hamonic, who is out with an upper-body injury sustained during a game Jan. 12 at Dallas.

The Islanders will start Kevin Poulin in goal. His career-high five-game win streak ended Tuesday in Florida. Poulin became the first Islanders goalie since Rick DiPietro (Feb 12-21, 2008, six straight) to win five straight games.

SUNRISE, Fla. -- San Jose Sharks goalie Alex Stalock will get a rare start Thursday against the Florida Panthers.

Stalock, a fourth-round pick (No. 112) in the 2005 NHL Draft who made his first NHL start Oct. 27, will make his seventh start of the season but only his second in the past 12 games.

Antti Niemi gave up three goals in the past three games, but Sharks coach Todd McLellan said it was part of a plan to keep his goalie fresh for the playoffs, particularly with Niemi competing for Finland in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Stalock allowed two goals on 35 shots in his previous start, a 3-2 shootout victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 5.

Stalock will be going against veteran Tim Thomas, who will make his seventh consecutive start in net for the Panthers. Thomas hasn't allowed more than two goals in any of his past four starts.

TAMPA -- The Tampa Bay Lightning had a pleasant surprise at their morning skate Thursday when Steven Stamkos hit the ice along with the rest of the team.

For Stamkos, recovering from a broken right tibia sustained Nov. 11, it marked the first time he participated in a full skate. He did not take part in line rushes or power-play drills, but did take part in a 2-on-1 drill and worked on faceoffs.

"It's obviously not a practice," Stamkos said, "but to be able to do some drills with the guys is definitely a positive."

Lightning coach Jon Cooper also saw it as a positive, but still sounded a note of caution.

"He's been pretty eager to get out there and I think his head is further along than his leg is," Cooper said. "I have no problem with that. I like his energy, his eagerness. It's just a sign that every day he is getting closer. That is a good thing. I'm just waiting for the day when [Lightning trainer] Tom Mulligan comes to me and says, 'By the way, number 91 is good to go.' It'll be like a mini-post Christmas."

The Winnipeg Jets on Thursday placed forward Evander Kane on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 7.

Kane has missed the past two games with a hand injury sustained Jan. 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

His 14 goals are third on the team and he has 25 points in 38 games.

To take his place, the Jets recalled forward Carl Klingberg from the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League.

TORONTO -- The Buffalo Sabres will get defenseman Tyler Myers and forward Drew Stafford back in the lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.

Myers has served his three-game suspension for delivering an illegal check to the head of New Jersey Devils forward Dainius Zubrus and will return to his spot on the Sabres' top defensive pairing.

"I'm not the type of guy that's reckless or looking to injure somebody and I think on that play I was trying to be aggressive," Myers said. "At my height and my size I think it's going to happen sometimes. I have to be aware of it for sure, but I don't think I want to change my game."

Sabres interim coach Ted Nolan says Stafford is ready to go after he missed the past four games with an upper-body injury. He has four goals and 13 points in 41 games this season. Forward John Scott will also suit up against the Maple Leafs. Linus Omark and Marcus Foligno will sit to make room.

ANAHEIM -- Jonas Hiller's record winning streak might have to be put on hold.

Hiller will be a game-time decision Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks because of illness, Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said after his team's morning skate.

"He wasn't feeling good this morning so we said, 'Stay home,'" Boudreau said. "It'll be a game-time decision. We'll know this afternoon whether he's still feeling flu-ish or if he feels fine to go."

Asked if he's checking in on Hiller every hour, Boudreau said, "Probably every half-hour."

Hiller tied four others Sunday for the second-longest winning streak in NHL history with his 14th consecutive victory. The last goalie to win 14 in a row was Tom Barrasso of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992-93. Gilles Gilbert of the Boston Bruins won 17 straight in 1975-76.

If Hiller isn't available, Anaheim has Frederik Andersen and rookie John Gibson to go with.

PITTSBURGH -- Before the Washington Capitals face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2, RDS), Alex Ovechkin shared a unique take on his rivalry with Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 33 goals, named Crosby and Malkin as two of the League's best players while ranking himself among the top 15.

"It's a great battle," Ovechkin said. "It's a good challenge for me. They are, right now, playing very good and it's going to be a good battle for us."

CHICAGO -- The Colorado Avalanche planned to play seven defensemen Tuesday night at United Center, but Cory Sarich was a late scratch with a reported back issue.

Sarich's absence left the Avalanche with 17 skaters against the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.