Los Angeles Kings v Anaheim Ducks (Honda Center)
Time: 7:30 PM
TV: NBC Sports Network, Sportsnet 1
Kings projected lineup:
Gaborik – Kopitar – Williams
Pearson – Carter – Toffoli
King – Richards – Brown
Pearson – Carter – Toffoli
King – Richards – Brown
Clifford – Stoll – Lewis
Doughty – Muzzin
Greene – Martinez
McNabb – McBain
Quick (or Jones?)
Injured: Regehr; Suspended: Voynov
Ducks projected lineup:
Smith-Pelly – Getzlaf – Etem
Silfverberg – Kesler – Beleskey
Rakell – Karlsson – Cogliano
Jackman – Thompson – Maroon
Silfverberg – Kesler – Beleskey
Rakell – Karlsson – Cogliano
Jackman – Thompson – Maroon
Fowler – Stoner
Lindholm – Manson
Lindholm – Manson
Allen – Vatanen
Andersen
Injured: Perry (sick), Beauchemin (sick)
Enemy Reading: Anaheim Calling
Game notes:
- Should be fun to see who actually skates tonight. Supposedly, a number of Kings are sick, and (surprise!) no one is being very forthright about who will play.
- That includes the Kings’ starting goaltender. Darryl Sutter, thankfully, has shown a willingness to start both goalies during back-to-back starts. Martin Jones debuted with a 9-for-9 shootout performance against the Ducks last year, so it would be poetic for him to get the call.
- One player who we assume WILL be in the lineup? Jamie McBain! The new signing could play on the ten-minute pairing with Brayden McNabb, though we can’t rule out the possibility of him getting a look with Drew McDoughty or Matt McGreene.
- Of course, McBain’s signing was necessitated by a rather extreme salary cap crunch. All of which makes staying healthy even more of a priority. At least no one’s catching anything from Corey Perry, who will not be in tonight’s lineup.
- Staying healthy isn’t easy against the Ducks, who are generally pretty chippy and ice a few bruisers on the blueline. Despite the presence of Clayton Stoner and Bryan Allen, they’re allowing the second-fewest goals per game in the NHL.
- Their forward corps, however, has gotten less bruisy. Their top nine, especially, has gotten younger and faster… aside from the addition of Ryan Kesler, who trails only Perry and Ryan Getzlaf in points for Anaheim.
- Obligatory:
- Fourth in points for Anaheim? Sami Vatanen, who has ten points… all on the power play. No dumb penalties tonight, LA. Be smart. This is a recording.
- Prediction: Some surprising Kings still haven’t gotten a goal this season. So, Drew Doughty opens the scoring and Jarret Stoll closes it. 3-1.