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Blues vs Kings

Kings could switch up defense with Martinez

Saturday, 05.04.2013 / 3:10 PM

By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent / Blues-Kings series blog

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Blues-Kings series blog
Kings could switch up defense with Martinez

LOS ANGELES -- There could be a new face on the Los Angeles Kings defense, and it doesn't appear to be Matt Greene who is going back into the lineup.

The Kings changed up their defensive pairings at the morning skate Saturday as Alec Martinez skated with Rob Scuderi while Slava Voynov was with Jake Muzzin.

The presence of Martinez is significant because he has not played since April 2. He didn't know or wouldn't say if he would play in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the St. Louis Blues (10 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS).

"Ask Darryl," Martinez said in reference to coach Darryl Sutter. "Every guy wants to play. I'll just wait, and if my name's called I'll be ready."

Sutter wouldn't budge when asked about the change in pairs. He alluded Friday to some of his defensemen being banged up. Greene tried to come back from back surgery, but Sutter said he didn't feel he was ready enough in four regular-season games, and Ellerby struggled in the first two games of this series. Greene skated with the extras.

Scuderi and Voynov have played together almost all of this season.

Martinez was part of the team's third pairing last season and is known more as an offensive defenseman. He missed seven games with an upper-body injury and was scratched the past 12 games of the regular season when it was clear he wasn't an option after Robyn Regehr was added to the team in a trade from the Buffalo Sabres.

Here's how the Kings' lineup could look in Game 3:

Dustin Brown – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams

Dwight King – Mike Richards – Jeff Carter

Dustin Penner – Jarret Stoll – Trevor Lewis

Kyle Clifford – Colin Fraser – Jordan Nolan

Robyn Regehr –Drew Doughty

Jake Muzzin – Slava Voynov

Rob Scuderi – Alec Martinez

Jonathan Quick

Jonathan Bernier

Scratched: Brad Richardson, Tyler Toffoli, Keaton Ellerby, Matt Greene

Injured: Willie Mitchell (knee)

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