Preview: Blackhawks at Kings

BLACKHAWKS (14-6-2) at KINGS (11-9-1)
10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, WGN, NHL.TV

Blackhawks team scope

Center Jonathan Toews will miss his second straight game for the Chicago Blackhawks with an upper-body injury he sustained against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. Toews missed a 3-2 win at the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, and his absence was noticeable: The Ducks won 73 percent of faceoffs and dominated puck possession. Anaheim outshot Chicago 36-25 and finished with a 61.3 shot attempts percentage (SAT%) at even strength. Toews has missed three games combined in the past two seasons. Backup goalie Scott Darling will start for the first time since Nov. 19. Rookie defenseman Michal Kempny, who has been a healthy scratch in each of the past two games, may replace defenseman Michal Rozsival in the lineup. Forward Jordin Tootoo sustained a lower-body injury against Anaheim and will not play.

Kings team scope

Forward Marian Gaborik was activated from injured reserve and could make his season debut for the Los Angeles Kings, who are seeking their fifth straight win. Gaborik hasn't played since breaking his foot when he blocked a shot Sept. 25 playing for Team Europe in the World Cup of Hockey 2016. Gaborik was at left wing on the fourth line during the morning skate and will be a game-time decision. He hasn't played a regular-season game since Feb. 12 and would be the second forward to return to the lineup this week for Los Angeles, which got center Anze Kopitar back from an upper-body injury in a 4-2 victory against the New York Islanders on Wednesday. Kopitar, who missed five games, played on the third line against the Islanders but was on the top line at the morning skate. Goalie Peter Budaj, who is 4-0-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average in his past four starts, is expected to make his seventh straight start. It will be his 20th straight appearance for the Kings, who are 8-2-0 at Staples Center this season.

Blackhawks projected lineup

Ryan Hartman -- Vinnie Hinostroza -- Patrick Kane
Artemi Panarin -- Artem Anisimov -- Marian Hossa
Dennis Rasmussen -- Marcus Kruger - Andrew Desjardins
Tyler Motte -- Nick Schmaltz -- Richard Panik
Duncan Keith -- Niklas Hjalmarsson
Michal Kempny -- Brent Seabrook
Gustav Forsling -- Brian Campbell
Scott Darling
Corey Crawford
Scratched:Michal Rozsival
Injured:Jonathan Toews (upper body), Trevor van Riemsdyk (upper body), Jordin Tootoo (lower body)

Kings projected lineup

Dwight King -- Anze Kopitar -- Trevor Lewis
Tanner Pearson -- Jeff Carter -- Tyler Toffoli
Dustin Brown -- Nic Dowd -- Devin Setoguchi
Marian Gaborik - Nicholas Shore -- Jordan Nolan
Derek Forbort -- Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin -- Alec Martinez
Kevin Gravel -- Matt Greene
Peter Budaj
Jeff Zatkoff
Scratched:Kyle Clifford, Teddy Purcell, Tom Gilbert
Injured:Jonathan Quick (groin), Andy Andreoff (thumb), Brayden McNabb (collarbone)

Status report

Clifford likely will play left wing on the fourth line if Gaborik can't play. … Andreoff centered the extra line at practice Friday and during the morning skate. He stayed on the ice late, meaning he likely won't be active. … Gilbert could play in place of Greene on the Kings' third defense pair.

Who's hot

Doughty has a goal and three assists during a three-game point streak. … Hartman has three goals in the past five games.