Palffy Expected to Return Tonight

In the short span between Saturday and tonight’s game against Dallas, the Kings have acquired forward Martin Straka from the Pittsburgh Penguins, got injured center Jozef Stumpel back and are anticipating the return of their leading scorer, right wing Ziggy Palffy.

In fact, King Coach Andy Murray practically guaranteed the latter move.

“I think he’s totally ready to play right now,” he said. “There’s going to be no setbacks.”

Palffy, who has missed five games because of a bruised jaw and facial cuts, practiced Wednesday in El Segundo and looked sharp. His potential linemate, Straka, has impressed the coaching staff by quickly picking up the system.

“He has real good hockey sense,” Murray said. “You see that when you show him something on the board. [Assistant coach] Ray Bennett reviewed our team-play system with him and came back and said, ‘He’s a quick learner. He asks good questions.’ ”

Straka is visibly excited about the change. The only downside is that his girlfriend, who’s expecting their child in two weeks, is unable to leave Pittsburgh for Los Angeles.

“She was devastated after they called me and said they traded me,” he said. “I was fine. She was crying. But my mother is coming to Pittsburgh to take care of her.”

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The Kings are going back to Roman Cechmanek in goal tonight even though he gave up three goals on nine shots and was replaced by Cristobal Huet in the second period in St. Louis on Tuesday. “At this point, Roman is still our No. 1 guy,” Murray said.

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Left wing Luc Robitaille and defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, who was suffering from flu-like symptoms, were given the day off. Center Mike Cammalleri and defenseman Maxim Kuznetsov, both bruised from the Blues game, cut their practice session short. Centers Esa Pirnes (concussion) and Ian Laperriere (concussion) have not resumed skating.... Parking lot 2 at Staples Center, which had been home to a Cirque du Soleil production since mid-September, will reopen to the public for Saturday night’s game against Washington.

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TONIGHT

vs. Dallas, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 12-10-1; Stars 11-11-3.

Record vs. Stars -- 1-1.

Update -- Though Dallas center Mike Modano suffered an abrasion of the cornea of his right eye -- having taken a stick in the face against the Kings on Sunday -- he is scheduled to play tonight. “It was a little scary when you feel a stick going into your eyeball,” Modano told the Dallas Morning News. “My vision was blurry most of the night, but when I got up [Monday], it was fine.”