Jonathan Quick on schedule for return from injury

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick is on schedule in his recovery from a lower-body injury and could return in February, general manager Dean Lombardi told NHL.com on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Lombardi told the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Kings Insider that Quick, who was injured in the first period of the season opener at the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 12, would be out of action until March. Lombardi later said he misspoke.

"I guess I took the worst-case scenario in saying March," Lombardi said in a telephone interview from Buffalo, where the Kings practiced before traveling for a game at the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-D, FS-W, NHL.TV). "Everything is on schedule, no setbacks, nothing accelerated. Early February or mid-February."

The Kings lost 6-3 to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, their third loss in their past four games (1-2-1). Goalie Peter Budaj started and was replaced by Jeff Zatkoff in the second period before Budaj came back for the third.
"That's what everyone was focused on because every puck last night was going in and I was talking about how to deal with that," Lombardi said.
Budaj, who started the season with Ontario of the American Hockey League, has played the majority of the games in Quick's absence. In 25 games he's 13-7-2 with a 2.27 goals-against average and .907 save percentage, but he's allowed nine goals in his past three games. Zatkoff is 1-5-0 with a 3.20 GAA and .882 save percentage in seven games.
The Kings (14-12-2) are on a nine-game road trip and don't play at home again until Dec. 31. Their problems extend beyond their goaltending, with center Jeff Carter saying Tuesday that the Kings are "a fragile team." But Lombardi said he won't mortgage the future to bring in a goaltender.
"I think, as you're seeing, there's not a lot out there," Lombardi said. "To say there's something [a trade] on the horizon? No.
"In the meantime I've got to do my job … if anybody who has watched us for 20 games or so, who has been at the top of their game? I don't think you're going to find a lot. I don't know if any of our World Cup [of Hockey 2016] guys have been at the top."