Kings defenseman Regehr unlikely to play in Game 1

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr said he is available, but it doesn't appear that he will skate against the New York Rangers on Wednesday in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, RDS).

"I feel ready," Regehr said after the morning skate. "I think it just comes down to a coach's decision."

Regehr said he has been cleared in his recovery from a knee injury that has kept him out since May 3, when he was injured in the first period of Game 1 of the second round against the Anaheim Ducks.

However, coach Darryl Sutter said of Regehr, "He's getting closer. [But] I probably wouldn't play him [in Game 1]."

The Kings have been fine without Regehr, one of their better penalty-killers and physical forces, and Regehr said he understood that and wouldn't try to convince them to put him back in the lineup.

"It's a matter of what kind of lineup Darryl wants to go with, probably, and I think it will probably be the same one that we had last game, seeing the guys played well and won a Game 7 in Chicago," Regehr said.

When Regehr does return, he will come full circle, having played for Sutter in his previous Final appearance, in 2004 with the Calgary Flames. The Flames' opponent in the Cup Final was the Tampa Bay Lightning, who featured center Brad Richards and right wing Martin St. Louis, who now are with the Rangers.

Asked what he wants to do different this time around, Regehr said, "Win. Simple as that."

Sutter was seen chatting with goalie Jonathan Quick at the bench at the end of the skate. Quick hasn't really maintained his high standards in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, although he's played high-powered teams like the San Jose Sharks, Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks.

Sutter was asked if he was concerned about the way some of the goals have gone past Quick.

"I'm not concerned," Sutter said. "He's been fabulous. I'm not just looking at this year's playoffs. I'm looking at the whole body of work. I tell Jonathan all the time, 'If I could pick a goalie for one game, I want Jonathan Quick.'"

Sutter was in a good mood and got off a good line when asked about being the favorites.

"When you get to this point, you get past it," Sutter said. "I think both teams deserve to be there. We finished with four more points than them during the regular season … it just depends on who you want to bet on, and I can't be on them."

Left wing Marian Gaborik, center Jeff Carter and center Mike Richards did not skate and the Kings did not do line rushes. The Rangers did not skate.

Here are the expected lineups:

RANGERS

Chris Kreider - Derek Stepan - Rick Nash

Carl Hagelin - Brad Richards - Martin St. Louis

Benoit Pouliot - Derick Brassard - Mats Zuccarello

Brian Boyle - Dominic Moore - Derek Dorsett

Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi

Marc Staal - Anton Stralman

Raphael Diaz - Kevin Klein

Henrik Lundqvist

David Leneveu

Injured: Cam Talbot (undisclosed)

Suspended: John Moore, Daniel Carcillo

Scratched: Jesper Fast, J.T. Miller, Justin Falk, Danny Syvret, Danny Kristo, Ryan Bourque, Oscar Lindberg, Dylan McIlrath, Conor Allen, Tommy Hughes

KINGS

Marian Gaborik - Anze Kopitar - Dustin Brown

Tanner Pearson - Jeff Carter - Tyler Toffoli

Dwight King - Jarret Stoll - Justin Williams

Kyle Clifford - Mike Richards - Trevor Lewis

Jake Muzzin - Drew Doughty

Willie Mitchell - Slava Voynov

Alec Martinez - Matt Greene

Jonathan Quick

Martin Jones

Scratched: Robyn Regehr, Colin Fraser, Jordan Nolan, Andrew Campbell, Linden Vey, Brayden McNabb, Jeff Schultz, Jean-Francois Berube, Andrew Bodnarchuk, Andy Andreoff