Kings will be early to rise Sunday for game against Wild

If you see someone pacing around Staples Center at 8 or 9 Sunday morning, there’s a good bet it’s a certain hockey coach.

“I’ll be up, so I might as well go, “ Kings Coach Darryl Sutter was saying Saturday after practice.

Sutter often likes to get to games early and he does a lot of pacing in the corridors. The Kings have a rare noon start Sunday, playing the Minnesota Wild. Farmer Darryl has no problem with getting up at the crack of dawn, much less an early start, although the Kings have had their issues with afternoon games.

He once hilariously referred to a loss to Columbus — also an early start — as a “pajama party.” The Kings had a noon start for a playoff game against St. Louis in 2012 and ended up clinching the second-round series that day.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Kings captain Dustin Brown said. “I’m up either way, early. It’s just about getting prepared to go that early. As players, we’re used to 7 or 7:30 [p.m.] We have the routine, but at the same time, we should be able to make the adjustments.

“I know years past it’s been a big deal around here. Just a matter of getting the job done.”

Said Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, coming off back-to-back victories: “It’s always great when you’re able to win the game. You get a win and you’ve still got half the day.”

In a sense, Saturday’s practice at El Segundo took the place of the usual morning pregame skate. Against the Wild, the Kings still will be without defenseman Jake Muzzin and forwards Marian Gaborik and Trevor Lewis. Sutter said Muzzin is scheduled to see the doctor Thursday for an X-ray.

“In some ways, today is game day,” Sutter said. “You’re already looking at the time between morning skate and game time. That’s how I look at it. You do a lot of your game prep stuff today.”

Kings center Jeff Carter was saying after Thursday’s 1-0 victory over the Blues in a shootout that he preferred playing four games in six days. After Sunday’s game against Minnesota, the Kings don’t play until Thursday and then have another matinee Sunday,

“I like our schedule a lot this past week rather than the coming week,” Brown said. “As a player, it’s more fun to play games than it is to practice. I think the majority of players would rather play every other day.”

Sutter’s family tree

Sutter’s nephew, Brody Sutter, made his NHL debut Thursday for the Carolina Hurricanes. He went back to the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League affiliate the next day but became the ninth member of the Sutter family to play in the NHL.

Brody is the son of Duane Sutter, who won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders. Duane, in fact, scored twice and added an assist in his NHL debut, which came against the Edmonton Oilers.

Young Brody won’t be the last Sutter to play in the NHL, according to his uncle.

“There will be more,” Darryl said.

KINGS TODAY

vs. Minnesota

When: Noon.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: TV: FS West, Radio: 790.

Etc. Goalie Niklas Backstrom will start for the Wild. Starter Darcy Kuemper had a franchise-record shutout streak of 163 minutes and 46 seconds end in a 2-1 loss to the Ducks on Friday night. Defensemen Keith Ballard and Matt Dumba and forward Kyle Brodziak won’t play against the Kings.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

Twitter: reallisa