Game Day Watch, 1/30: Kings, Stars, and Kings stars

HOW TO WATCH

Game Time: 5:30 PM
TV: Fox Sports West
Radio: KABC AM 790
Stream: Fox Sports Go

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

if you’re a Kings fan: They’re back.

if you’re a Stars fan: They’re also back.

if you’re a hockey fan: This section is probably going to be “PLAYOFF RACE.” for every remaining game. Having said that: PLAYOFF RACE. In particular, this one is significant, with the Stars in the first wild card spot in the West and the Kings a single point out. Both teams are somewhat underachieving relative to their strong goal differential, but we know why. Dallas has a penchant for beating teams by a lot -- their last two wins were 7-1 and 6-1 -- while LA has a penchant for losing by one goal after making up a third-period deficit. Still, both teams deserve to be in the picture.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

for the Kings: All-Star defenseman Drew Doughty.

Drew Doughty's performance in the passing challenge was... Well... Yeah. pic.twitter.com/wYjTmq1tOP

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 28, 2018

for the Stars: All-Star defenseman John Klingberg.

It's @johnklingberg's first #NHLAllStar Skills Challenge. Not sure this is what he expected. pic.twitter.com/Q18tNavk5z

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) January 28, 2018

KINGS WATCH

• Doughty wasn’t the only struggler on Saturday; Anze Kopitar finished last in his only challenge, the Accuracy competition. Like Doughty, he wasn’t in last by a huge margin, but no one remembers who finishes in second-to-last.
• They will remember that the Pacific Division won it all, though! Personally, I was satisfied when the Pacific ensured that the Central (and more importantly, the Blackhawks) would remain winless in All-Star 3-on-3 competition, but they managed to seal the deal for the second time in three years. Doughty scored goals on a breakaway (!) and a one-timer, with Kopitar picking up a couple assists. They skated quite well with Rickard Rakell, who I would very much like to see in a Kings uniform.
• Jonathan Quick headed to Injured Reserve, but anyone who wasn’t immediately knocked over by the news learned that his stay would be a short one. He’s expected to be active on Thursday. In the meantime, Jack Campbell is back, along with three other returnees./

Mike Amadio, Jonny Brodzinski, Paul LaDue & Jack Campbell all recalled by LAK https://t.co/bgq0U1Eq0A

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) January 29, 2018

WATCH THIS

You know who was killing it in an All-Star Skills Competition last weekend? Cal Petersen.