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

The Kings found redemption at All-Star Weekend after a woeful skills competition. Can they carry it back into the regular season?

By Eric K.
2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game - Central v Pacific Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

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.

for the Stars: All-Star defenseman John Klingberg.

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.

WATCH THIS

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

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