Kings-Stars preview: Williams doubtful tonight

October 22, 4:40 PMLos Angeles Kings ExaminerJonathan Moncrief

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Kings hope to extend several streaks by wearing their third jerseys tonight
Courtesy: LAKINGS.com

UPDATE - Williams is out tonight - Simmonds on top line...

Thursday October 22, 4:20PM: The Los Angeles Kings return home from a season-long six game road trip tonight when they host the Dallas Stars at Staples Center.  The team is back in black, but Justin Williams is momentarily black and blue.

Head coach Terry Murray told the media after today's morning skate that Williams suffered a lower body injury near the end of the session and is doubtful for tonight's game.

"It just happened on the ice today," Murray stated, "near the end of the practice actually, the last drill that we were going through."  Murray went on to state that it did not initially appear as a long term injury.  In fact, it happened in such a short timeframe after the skate ended that Murray wasn't sure how his line-up would change.

"I’m a little hesitant, when a player gets injured, to break up another line, to move a player to that spot," Murray commented. "I generally like to keep my second and third lines the same in this kind of situation, and move another player into that spot."

Among those being considered to jump up to join Ryan Smyth and Anze Kopitar on the top line includes Trevor Lewis, Peter Harrold, and Alexander Frolov.  It would be interesting if Frolov, who was a healthy scratch during the Kings 4-1 victory over Dallas on Monday, goes from the doghouse to first class tonight, but it seems like the most likely scenario.

Meanwhile, the team will make their second appearance of the season wearing their third jerseys.  They defeated San Jose 6-4 back on October 6, marking the fifth consecutive victory wearing all black, stretching back to last season.  Two of those victories have come against the Stars; the one that started the current streak was perhaps the high moment of last season, a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win on March 5.  In fact, the Stars will be seeing black in all three meetings at Staples this season.  The Kings currently have an 8-3-2 mark overall since the jerseys were introduced at the beginning of last season.

The Kings are also hosting Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night tonight, as part of the league's Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness month.  Players from both teams will wear special decals on their helmets, while coaches, broadcasters, and Kings staff members, will all wear special ties with the HFC logo.  Fans attending can get involved in a variety of ways including: pictures taken with members of the Kings Ice Crew for $5.00; mini hockey glove key chains for $10; a pair of blood mobiles and bone marrow drives will also be conducted.  All proceeds go directly to Hockey Fights Cancer.