The Los Angeles Kings look for their third straight victory on Saturday afternoon hosting the Montreal Canadiens at Staples Center, but they will have to do so without Mike Richards and Willie Mitchell. The Kings on Friday placed Richards on injured reserve with an upper body injury after he was hit in the head by Sean Bergenheim of the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
Dustin Penner, who has missed the last nine games, was activated from injured reserve to take the place of Richards on the roster. Mitchell suffered a lower body injury and while he wasn't placed on injured reserve, head coach Terry Murray said on Thursday that both Mitchell and Richards would miss "a few games."
The Kings are 7-5-1 at Staples Center this season, and Saturday's game concludes a four-game homestand. Goaltender Jonathan Quick has saved 74 of 75 shots in his last two games, both wins, but he is expected to rest against Montreal. Jonathan Bernier is likely to get the start in net for Los Angeles on Saturday, his fifth start of the season.
Montreal has lost four straight games, falling to 10-11-5 on the season. The Canadiens won the only meeting between the two teams last season, a 4-1 win in Montreal on November 24, 2010.
Saturday afternoon's 12:30 p.m. PST game will be televised by Fox Sports West and NHL Network. For more Kings hockey news and information, be sure to read Jewels From The Crown.