At the Rink: Kings at Blackhawks

CHICAGO – The Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks aren't at the top of the Western Conference standings, but they still draw a lot of interest whenever they play each other.

After splitting the past two Western Conference Final series and winning the past two Stanley Cup titles, the defending champion Kings and Blackhawks have earned a lot of respect, including each other's. They will decide their three-game season series at United Center on Monday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN) in the Kings' first return to Chicago since winning in overtime of Game 7 to advance to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.

"We're excited," Kings forward Tyler Toffoli said after a well-attended optional morning skate. "It was a really fun series. Obviously when you win, it makes it even more fun. You look back and you think of what we did, but at this time of the season you've got to forget about it and be ready to play."

The Kings trail the Calgary Flames by a point for third place in the Pacific Division and sit two points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, holding a game in hand against each.

The Blackhawks moved back into third in the Central Division, a point ahead of the Minnesota Wild, with a win at the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.

Chicago didn't hold a morning skate, but a handful of players went through drills with the assistant coaches. It was a notable session for several reasons.

Forward Patrick Kane (left clavicle) looked like himself despite being a little more than a month into his estimated three-month recovery process. Forward Joakim Nordstrom (upper body) was back on the ice after he was injured March 25 at the Philadelphia Flyers.

Rookie forward Kyle Baun and rookie defenseman Michael Paliotta also got their first feel of the home ice at United Center after each college prospect signed a two year entry-level contract last week.

Kane’s progress was the most eye-opening development.

He skated with agility and speed, displayed his elite stickhandling skills and even took some wrist shots. Medical clearance appears to be the lone hurdle to clear, and there’s nothing set in stone at this point.

“You watch him today, he does everything you want him to do, or he wants to do, so I guess now we’ll just listen I guess,” Quenneville said. “When it's medically cleared will probably be the one [deciding factor], because I would feel he would be ready to go as soon as he gets clearance. So, that’s what we’re waiting for.”

The Blackhawks will start backup goalie Scott Darling. Jonathan Quick will make his 15th straight start and 28th in 29 games for the Kings since the All-Star break.

"I think he's shown that in the playoffs the last three years, the importance of … not endurance, but succeeding," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "I think he's shown that. If you go back to where we were at the All-Star break, we made that decision that we were going to ride him, and if he played like we know he can, we were going to play him. That's what we've done and it's given us a chance to make the playoffs."

Here are the projected lineups:

KINGS

Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams

Dwight King – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli

Dustin Brown – Nick Shore – Trevor Lewis

Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Jordan Nolan

Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty

Robyn Regehr – Andrej Sekera

Alec Martinez – Matt Greene

Jonathan Quick

Martin Jones

Scratched: Brayden McNabb, Jamie McBain, Andy Andreoff

Injured: Tanner Pearson (left fibula), Jarret Stoll (upper body)

Suspended: Slava Voynov

BLACKHAWKS

Kris Versteeg – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa

Patrick Sharp – Brad Richards – Antoine Vermette

Bryan Bickell – Andrew Shaw – Brandon Saad

Andrew Desjardins – Marcus Kruger – Teuvo Teravainen

Johnny Oduya – Niklas Hjalmarsson

Duncan Keith – Michal Rozsival

Kimmo Timonen – Brent Seabrook

Scott Darling

Corey Crawford

Scratched: David Rundblad, Michael Paliotta, Kyle Baun

Injured: Patrick Kane (left clavicle), Joakim Nordstrom (upper body), Daniel Carcillo (upper body)

Status report: If the 6-foot-2, 209-pound Baun makes his NHL debut, he'll likely play right wing on the one of the checking lines. … Carter and Gaborik were among the few Kings players who used their option not to skate.

Who's hot: Shaw has four goals in his past four games. Toews has scored eight goals since Kane was injured Feb. 24, including goals in the past two games. … Kopitar has three goals and eight assists in the past 10 games for the Kings.