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Game Day Watch, 1/5: Detroit Red Wings @ Los Angeles Kings

Posted on by Eric Kveton

HOW TO WATCH

Game Time: 7:30 PM Pacific
TV: Fox Sports West, Sportsnet
Radio: KABC AM 790
Stream: Fox Sports Go (requires cable subscription)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

if you’re a Kings fan: Do the Kings have a run in them? As nice as this seven-game homestand has the potential to be, the slate is quite difficult. Having said that, tonight fits the dictionary definition of a trap game, doesn’t it?

if you’re a Red Wings fan: Do the Red Wings have any chance tonight? They looked lifeless in the first game of a back-to-back against the Anaheim Ducks last night, and they continue to fall out of it in an Atlantic Division where five teams are jostling for position behind Montreal.

if you’re a hockey fan: In a normal year, this would be our much-anticipated (OK, semi-anticipated) showdown between American-born goaltenders Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Quick! They’re both hurt, though, so we’re instead getting Jeff Zatkoff vs. Jared Coreau. Zatkoff won his start against Detroit earlier this season; Coreau was a nice surprise in his first three starts, but got thrown into the fire in the Centennial Classic vs. Toronto.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

for the Kings: Jeff Carter. The only player on the Kings with more than 20 points, he picked up yet another goal and the game-winning assist against San Jose. He’ll probably the player to watch for the foreseeable future, whether we put him in this space or not.

for the Red Wings: Henrik Zetterberg. The only player on the Red Wings with more than 20 points, he saw a six-game point streak snapped against Anaheim yesterday.

LEAGUE/WORLDWIDE WATCH

  • It’ll be USA vs. Canada tonight for the World Junior title. Great news! It’s going to be fantastic, and the game starts at 5:00 PM Pacific, so it should hopefully wrap up just in time for the Kings’ game tonight. [SB Nation]
  • Kale Clague, the Kings’ second-round pick in 2016, has moved up to Canada’s top pairing with Thomas Chabot as the tourney has progressed, and he picked up another assist yesterday. One of the last players to make the squad has been impressive./

  • The Columbus Blue Jackets go for their 17th straight win tonight. More importantly: the Blue Jackets’ SB Nation blog is naming their Corgi! [The Cannon]/

WATCH THIS

Talking Points