Kings' Jones hoping for permanent NHL job

Thursday, 01.16.2014 / 2:14 PM

By Louie Korac - NHL.com Correspondent / 2013-2014 At the Rink Blog

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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.

"It's obviously nice to hear and nice to have that confidence in me, but again, while I'm here … I got a taste of it last time, and it's good motivation to get back here and want to stay here. I've just got to keep working, doing the things that made me successful here."

Kings coach Darryl Sutter said he feels Jones will be better because of his previous experience of playing with the Kings.

"He came in and played pretty well and he was really average when he left," Sutter said. "He's a kid. Now you put him in that role where he gets his games but he's working too."

On the injury front, defenseman Matt Greene did not accompany the Kings on the five-game trip that begins Thursday (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2) against the St. Louis Blues, who beat the Kings 5-0 at Scottrade Center on Jan. 2. The team recalled right wing Linden Vey from the Monarchs on Wednesday.

The Blues will get Vladimir Sobotka (illness) back into the lineup after he missed their game Tuesday against the Phoenix Coyotes. Also Jordan Leopold, a healthy scratch Tuesday, will replace Ian Cole in the lineup against the Kings.

Alexander Steen (concussion) continues to skate with the team but has not yet been cleared to play. He has been on the ice with teammates three of the past four days.

Here are the projected lineups for both teams:

KINGS

Dustin Brown - Anze Kopitar - Jeff Carter

Matt Frattin - Mike Richards - Justin Williams

Dwight King - Jarret Stoll - Trevor Lewis

Kyle Clifford - Colin Fraser - Jordan Nolan

Jake Muzzin - Drew Doughty

Willie Mitchell - Alec Martinez

Robyn Regehr - Slava Voynov

Jonathan Quick

Martin Jones

Scratched: Tanner Pearson, Linden Vey