"The Kings and Ducks both have three preseason games left before finalizing their opening-day rosters. Tonight's head-to-head match at Staples Center won't reflect a finished product on either side, but it's getting close. The focus will be less on the stars - not all of whom will play - but on a handful of youngsters battling for the final roster spots. The Kings must trim their current roster from 33 to 23, which is easier than it sounds. Marc-Andre Cliche, Ray Kaunisto, Colten Teubert and Viatcheslav Voynov are all coming off injuries and are expected to start the season in the minors once healthy. Cliche was placed on waivers Monday, and four others were assigned to the American Hockey League's Manchester Monarchs: defensemen Andrew Campbell, Johan Fransson and Alec Martinez, and center Oscar Moller. With veteran Matt Greene on injured reserve, that leaves an extra spot open on defense and two players with no NHL experience - Jake Muzzin and Thomas Hickey - in contention. "Both are going to get an opportunity here in the next two games that we play," Kings head coach Terry Murray said. "With wanting to get the veterans ready to play, it doesn't give them that three, four opportunities to show their game, so they have to be very good in those opportunities they do get." Hickey comes with the hype of being the fourth overall draft pick in 2007, but also an injury history that's limited his exposure recently. " http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_16191744
