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Game Day Preview #71, Detroit Red Wings @ Los Angeles Kings

Preview: Detroit Red Wings (26-32-11) @ Los Angeles Kings (38-26-5)

Game Time: 7:00 PM, NBCSN

Positive of Tuesday’s game: The Kings walked away with a point and showed some of that trademark resilience that highlighted many of their early-season come-from-behind wins.

Negative: They had to dig out of a 3-0 hole to the Arizona Coyotes in order to get that point.

Positive: Tanner Pearson, four goals in six games. Jeff Carter, eight points in nine games since returning from injury.

Negative: DOWN THREE NOTHING TO THE COYOTES

Positive: Adrian Kempe, Shootout Specialist and All-Around Troublemaker

The Kings have blown their fair share of games to teams well out of playoff contention lately — 4-3 to Edmonton, 5-3 to Chicago, 7-2 to St. Louis, 4-3 to Arizona. Tonight’s a chance to change that trend.

The Red Wings have won only two of their last ten games and currently have a seven game losing streak. Henrik Zetterberg called out his team for not playing the right way after a 4-0 loss to Vegas. Based on that losing streak, things haven’t exactly improved for Detroit, although they’ve at least scored a few goals since then.

The Red Wings are led in points by Dylan Larkin, who has a new career high in points (49) but has seen his shooting percentage nosedive — he’s shooting at just 4.9% this season, which is half of what he put up last year. His goals have suffered as a result; Larkin’s got nine on the season, compared to last year’s seventeen. So if there’s any silver lining for the Red Wings as they start to look towards next season, it’s that Larkin will almost certainly rebound. As it is, he’s certainly found his touch as a playmaker, which makes having huge power forward Anthony Mantha (23 goals) even more dangerous.

In net for Detroit is Jared Coreau, who has just two starts this season, after being called up due to the Petr Mrazek trade. Coreau, of course, started when Detroit faced the Kings last season and ended up getting his first career shut-out. Just, you know, putting that memory out there.

The Kings could see some minor changes in lines today, with Mike Amadio drawing back in, based on practice this morning. Paul LaDue also looks to skate in place of Christian Folin. The puck-moving defenseman certainly deserves a longer look than he’s gotten this season, and his speed should hopefully be an asset tonight.

Energy and compete level seem to be a continual issue with the Kings this season. Their lack of both against Arizona is what put them in that hole that was, ultimately, insurmountable. That, and squandering a few power play opportunities. That would have helped, too. With the clock on the season ticking down, there’s not much time left for repeat performances of that Arizona game. Or the St. Louis game. Or the — well, you get the picture.

Projected Line Combinations

Los Angeles Kings

Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown
Rieder – Carter – Lewis
Pearson – Kempe – Toffoli
Clifford – Amadio – Thompson

Forbort – Doughty
Martinez – Phaneuf
Muzzin – LaDue

Quick
(Campbell)

Detroit Red Wings

Bertuzzi – Zetterberg – Nyquist
Mantha – Larkin – Helm
Athanasiou – Nielsen – Abdelkader
Svechnikov – Glendening – Frk

Ericsson – Daley
DeKeyser – Green
Kronwall – Jensen

Coreau
(Howard)

Opposing Preview: Winging It In Motown

Talking Points