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Game Day Watch, 3/16: Buffalo Sabres @ Los Angeles Kings

HOW TO WATCH

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

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

if you’re a Kings fan: You’re angry, right? We’re all angry. Arizona was supposed to be the team that LA unleashed their frustrations against, and instead, they just built up more frustration. So maybe they’ll win by seven tonight.

if you’re a Sabres fan: You get to watch Jack Eichel! And even though he scored on his own net for the San Jose Sharks, that’s a treat and you should enjoy it.

if you’re a hockey fan: I can’t give you a great reason to watch, but I can challenge you. The puck should drop around 7:40 PM Pacific. At that point, there will be four NCAA Tournament games on, and if you managed to get games on four screens, that’s great. But the true test: can you watch FIVE games at once? Try it tonight, with the Kings and the Sabres!

PLAYERS TO WATCH

for the Kings: Adrian Kempe. Kempe put together his best back-to-back games as an NHL player on back-to-back nights, and Darryl Sutter showed his trust in Kempe, using him on penalty kills and in high-leverage situations. When Kopitar and Carter finished a minute-long power play shift that ended in Tyler Toffoli’s goal, it was Kempe who went out on the next draw. He won the defensive zone draw before Arizona’s game-tying goal, and if LA hadn’t failed to clear the zone afterward we’d have talked about him a lot more.

for the Sabres: Hudson Fasching. Remember him? Drafted 118th by the Kings in 2013, Fasching beat every other post-2012 LA draftee to the NHL, but he’s been injured for much of the 2016-17 season. This will be his first game for Buffalo since October 30. The good news is that Fasching won’t get his first career goal against LA, because he picked one up last season.

KINGS (AND RIVALS) WATCH

  • Jonathan Bernier and the Anaheim Ducks finally gave the Kings some help. [St. Louis Game Time]
  • The Flames’ long winning streak finally came to an end. [Matchsticks & Gasoline]
  • Despite being set to call tonight’s game on Fox Sports West, Jon Rosen had time to tell us that Brayden McNabb probably won’t play against his former team, even though the guy he got traded for (Fasching) will. [LA Kings Insider]/

WATCH THIS

the siiiiiiimpsoooooons

Talking Points