Carter cleared to practice with Kings

Jeff Carter has been cleared to resume practicing, the Los Angeles Kings announced Wednesday.
The 33-year-old center has been sidelined with a lacerated ankle tendon since Oct. 18, when he was injured in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. Carter is expected to participate in the morning skate Thursday but won't play against the Dallas Stars at Staples Center (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, FS-SW, NHL.TV).

Carter, who had surgery on Oct. 19 to repair the tendon, has been skating on his own for more than a month. His return would be a significant boost for the Kings with the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline approaching at 3 p.m. ET on Monday.

Carter led the Kings with 32 goals and 66 points last season. he had no goals and three assists in six games this season before he was injured.
The Kings (30-22-5) are third in the Pacific Division; they are even in points with the fourth-place Anaheim Ducks and the Minnesota Wild, who hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.