The Los Angeles Kings are down to five defensemen for their game Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks at Staples Center.
Robyn Regehr left practice early Friday with an undisclosed injury and won't play, according to LAKingsInsider.com. As a result,the Kings will dress a 13th forward.
That bonus forward could end up being Justin Williams, who is poised to return after a one-game absence Thursday against the New York Islanders because of a cut on his eyelid sustained in the previous game against the Dallas Stars.
Coach Darryl Sutter wouldn't confirm Williams' return but he likely would slot back in on the top line after Jordan Nolan filled in there against the Islanders.
"You know, obviously, again, going back to the way our injuries are, we'll put everybody in the lineup and decide then," Sutter said. "It's no 'cut-and-dry.' Literally, it is 'game-time.'"
The Canucks enter in second place in the Pacific Division, three points ahead of the defending Stanley Cup champions.
"We can't make a lot of mistakes," Vancouver center Nick Bonino said. "They're a good team and they'll make us pay."
The Canucks have scored eight goals in winning the first two games of a four-game road trip against the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.
"We like when guys come at us. We're expecting the Kings to be ready," Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin said. "We need to play a more complete game."
Here are the projected lineups:
CANUCKS
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Radim Vrbata
Chris Higgins - Nick Bonino - Alexandre Burrows
Shawn Matthias - Bo Horvat - Nicklas Jensen
Derek Dorsett - Linden Vey - Jannik Hansen
Alexander Edler - Christopher Tanev
Scratched: Yannick Weber
Injured: Tom Sestito (leg), Zack Kassian (lower body), Brad Richardson (undisclosed)
KINGS
Marian Gaborik - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams
Tanner Pearson - Jeff Carter - Tyler Toffoli
Dwight King - Mike Richards - Dustin Brown
Kyle Clifford - Jarret Stoll - Trevor Lewis
Scratched: Andy Andreoff
Suspended: Slava Voynov
Injured: Robyn Regehr (undisclosed)
Status report: Richardson will be a game-time decision. ... Kassian did not skate this morning. "He obviously needs more time," coach Willie Desjardins said. ... Jensen was recalled from Utica of the American Hockey League and played right wing on the third line at the morning skate. "I'm excited to be here, especially playing against the defending champs. It was a long travel day, but it was worth it," he said.
Who's hot: Bonino has three goals in the past two games. … Quick has stopped 58 of 60 shots in his past two starts, a .967 save percentage.