Kings coach Darryl Sutter on Monday didn’t repeat his pre-Game 2 expectation that defenseman Robyn Regehr would play for the first time since suffering a knee injury in Game 1 of the second-round series against the Ducks. Instead, Sutter had this to say when asked before Game 3 if he considered moving Regehr into the lineup, with the expectation that Matt Greene would be scratched:

“We’ll just do it as games go along, warmups go along, how guys feel.”

Robyn Regehr hasn’t played since injuring his knee in Game 1 of the Kings’ second-round series against the Ducks. If coach Darryl Sutter decided whether the time was right for Regehr’s return to the lineup for Game 2, he wasn’t saying hours before the opening faceoff Saturday at Staples Center.

“We’ll make the decision after warmup on our lineup,” Sutter said.

Defenseman Robyn Regehr hasn’t played since suffering an unspecified knee injury in Game 1 of the Kings’ second-round playoff series against the Ducks. He missed the next six games of that series, plus all seven games of the Western Conference finals, plus Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Regehr is expected to make his return to the Kings’ lineup for Game 2 today at Staples Center, however. Regehr was cleared to resume taking contact earlier in the week, but Kings coach Darryl Sutter scratched him for a 3-2 overtime victory Wednesday. The waiting is over, however.

“He’ll probably play tomorrow,” Sutter said Friday.

Regehr is likely to replace Matt Greene in the Kings’ lineup.

“It’s a coach’s decision,” Regehr said. “I have no idea. If you look at the previous two (games), we’ve won the last two with the same lineup. That’s what I’m expecting. My job right now is just to work and be ready as much as I can. If I get the call, then go out and play my game.”

Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr last played in Game 1 of their second-round series against the Ducks. Teemu Selanne cracked him against the glass, Regehr’s knee was injured and he went out of the Kings’ lineup for the rest of that series and all of the Western Conference finals. He pronounced himself fit for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday at Staples Center.

“I feel ready,” Regehr said at the Kings’ morning skate. “It just comes down to a coach’s decision. I feel good. I’ve had a chance to practice a little bit and get a little bit of contact, so … I don’t think that’s necessary. It’s a matter of what kind of lineup Darryl wants to go with. I think he’ll probably use the same one he used last game. The guys played well and we won Game 7 in Chicago.”

Said Sutter: “He’s getting closer, but I probably wouldn’t play him tonight.”

Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr, sidelined by a knee injury since Game 2 of the second-round series against the Ducks, participated in the team’s morning skate Friday at Staples Center. It was the first time since Teemu Selanne of the Ducks injured him in Game 1 that Regehr skated with his teammates. His return to the Kings’ lineup remains uncertain, however.

“It’s difficult when you’re injured because you’re on a different schedule and program than a lot of the normal guys, the playing guys, so you feel like you’re a little bit of a Hobbit sometimes,” Regehr said. “So, it’s nice to be back around the guys. It started with the travel to Chicago and things like that.”

Regehr has been cleared for contact.

“I did a few little battle drills down low, 2-on-1s and things like that. I need more of that, more contact before I’m ready to roll. It’s a lot better than doing them by yourself. You can chirp back. The only thing you could do before was look at your reflection in the glass and that was no fun.”