The Los Angeles Kings will want to keep their perfect playoff home record intact with another home win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday during the Western Conference Game 4 at 9 p.m. ET.
Listen online Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings radio stream, click here.
Via ESPN:
Los Angeles Kings center Mike Richards returned to the ice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a suspected concussion late in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Richards took the ice for about 20 minutes during the Kings' optional practice. He was not wearing a no-contact jersey, but there was no contact during the drills and Richards didn't seem limited. Richards did not address the media afterward, and there is still no official timetable for his return.
"He had a light workout," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said before the optional skate. "I don't know if that's progress or not. I talked to him for a minute after the game and he was more interested in the fact that we won than how he was feeling."
Sutter ruled Richards out before Tuesday's Game 3 after Richards did not partake in the morning skate. He did not dress for the game and watched it from the press box. Richards took pregame warm-ups Sunday night before Game 2 but was pulled out of the lineup just prior to the matchup.
The Kings' leading scorer in the playoffs, Richards was rocked by a big hit from Chicago's Dave Bolland near the end of Game 1.
Kings forward Jeff Carter was encouraged by Richards' return to the ice Wednesday but wasn't sure if he'd be available for Game 4 on Thursday, with the Kings trailing in the series 2-1.
"It's obviously great to see him out there," Carter said. "I don't know anything more than that, other than he skated today. If we could get him back at some point in this series, whenever it is, it's a huge lift to this team."
