You already knew what today’s lineup was going to be… with one question. Let’s answer that, but first, here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
Anaheim Ducks @ Los Angeles Kings
Start Time: 7:30 PM Pacific
TV: Fox Sports West
Radio: KABC 790 AM
Streaming: Fox Sports Go (requires cable subscription)
Anaheim Ducks (based on yesterday’s practice lines, via Kyle Shoshara):
Ritchie – Getzlaf – Perry
Cogliano – Kesler – Silfverberg
Vermette – Rakell – Wagner
Garbutt – Cramarossa – Boll
Fowler – Manson
Stoner – Vatanen
Theodore – Bieksa
Gibson
(Bernier)
Los Angeles Kings (via Jon Rosen):
Pearson – Kopitar – Setoguchi
King – Carter – Toffoli
Lewis – Dowd – Brown
Clifford – Shore – Nolan
Martinez – Doughty
Muzzin – Gilbert
Forbort – Greene
Budaj
(Zatkoff)
Key Notes:
- What’s up with Teddy? In the aftermath of two straight weekend shutouts, I thought one thing was for sure: we’d finally see Teddy Purcell today. It’s still possible — Purcell did skate this morning, although he was taking the place of Jeff Carter, who took the morning off — but the fact that Clifford, Shore and Nolan stayed intact seems to point to Purcell sitting again. If you’re thinking that there must be something wrong, you’d be right; Purcell was “banged up” at the end of camp, according to Darryl Sutter, and then came down with the sickness.
- Matt Greene plays for his spot once more. Okay, we’re all breathing easier with the revelation that Rob Scuderi’s call-up was a move to maximize their breathing room once someone (probably Jonathan Quick) goes on LTIR. So what will the Kings do now? They might call up Kevin Gravel after all, but they’ll certainly roll with Matt Greene tonight. Greene’s got a good chance of staying in the lineup if LA wants to top-load their top two pairs. Of course, he’s also got a good chance if he plays well tonight.
- Top Four Tommy. Tom Gilbert is in a good place right now. He’s locked into the Kings’ lineup despite starting the year in the press box, he’s getting considerable power play time, he’s only been on the ice for a couple goals against all season at even strength, and now, he’s in the top four. He and Jake Muzzin will be critically important to the Kings’ chances tonight; last year’s Norris Trophy and this October’s likely Player of the Month are assumed to be just fine, but that second pair is going to get just as much responsibility./
Preview to come, including more on Setoguchi, Kopitar, and Budaj.