Peter Budaj will replace Jeff Zatkoff in goal as the Los Angeles Kings look for answers in the absence of starter Jonathan Quick, who was injured on opening night. Zatkoff is 0-3-0 with a 4.38 goals-against average and a save percentage of .839 (10 goals on 62 shots). Budaj was recalled from Ontario of the American Hockey League after Quick sustained a lower-body injury on Oct. 12. He stopped all nine shots he faced in the third period of a 6-3 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Budaj was a First-Team AHL All-Star last season and won his only start NHL start with the Kings, a 5-4 victory against the New York Rangers on Feb. 12. "He's got great experience and he works hard," forward Dwight King said. "So that's all you can ask out of a goalie."
Stars team scope
The Stars return home and will use the same lineup that skated in a 2-1 road win against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. That means defensemen Esa Lindell and Jamie Oleksiak will play again after being scratched for the first two games. "I'm obviously a bit of a heavier body, so I can bring that element," said Oleksiak, who's 6-foot-7, 255 pounds. "It's going to be a physical type of game with how they play." Forward Adam Cracknell continued to make an early impact against Nashville and has three points in three games. Goaltender Kari Lehtonen will start after allowing one goal on 28 shots against the Predators.
Gilbert will play his second straight game after replacing Greene against the Wild. … Hudler is battling an illness and will miss his second game. Hemsky skated in the morning but has yet to be cleared to play.
Who's hot
Kopitar leads the Kings with three points. … Cracknell, Roussel, Jamie Benn, Seguin, Shore and Eaves share the team scoring lead for the Stars; each has three points in three games.
