EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Alec Martinez will be the odd man out when the Los Angeles Kings debut defenseman Robyn Regehr on Thursday night.
Coach Darryl Sutter will insert Regehr in Martinez's spot in the third pairing when L.A. plays the Minnesota Wild. Sutter predictably doesn't want to break up his top two pairings of Jake Muzzin with Drew Doughty and Rob Scuderi with Slava Voynov.
"It's pretty easy to see where you go," Sutter said. "Muzzin-Doughty and Scuderi-Voynov have been two really good pairs for us 5-on-5."
Regehr was acquired Monday from the Buffalo Sabres for two second-round draft picks. He joked about knowing Justin Williams only from separating Williams' shoulder two seasons ago, and Williams was able to smile about his new teammate.
"I think I just got finished off by a very large defenseman," Williams said. "He's always one of those guys you see [and you say], 'All right, heads up for this guy.'"
Dustin Brown – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Tyler Toffoli – Mike Richards – Jeff Carter
Dwight King – Jarret Stoll – Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford – Brad Richardson – Jordan Nolan
Injured: Matt Greene (back), Willie Mitchell (knee), Dustin Penner (lower body)
Scratched: Alec Martinez, Colin Fraser
NOTES: Bernier was first off the ice and will get his second start since March 19. He is 2-0-2 with a 1.20 goals-against average against Minnesota. ... Sutter didn't say if Brad Richardson would remain in the lineup. The option would be Colin Fraser.
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