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Kings-Blue Jackets Preview: Matt Greene returns!

Los Angeles Kings v Columbus Blue Jackets (Staples Center)

Time: 7.30 PM

TV: Fox Sports West

Enemy reading: The Cannon

Blue Jackets (projected) Lineup:

Prospal-Letestu-Gaborik
Umberger-Johansen-Foligno
Calvert-Dubinsky-Atkinson
Comeau-MacKenzie-Boll
Tyutin-Johnson
Prout-Savard
Wisniewski-Erixon
Bobrovsky
Injured: Nikitin (lower body), Anisimov (head), Aucoin (lower body)

Kings (projected) lineup:

Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Penner-Richards-Carter
King-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford-Richardson-Nolan

Regehr-Doughty
Scuderi-Voynov
Muzzin-Greene

Quick

Injured: Mitchell (knee); Scratched: Ellerby, Martinez, Toffoli

  • Matt Greene has been activated, putting an end to the rollercoaster Muzzin-Ellerby experience. No more stomach aches. There is much rejoicing.
  • I honestly don’t know why Muzzin and Ellerby were kept together that long. Yes, someone would have had to play their off side, but I’d much rather have seen Martinez with Muzzin. I would even rather have kept the underrated Davis Drewiske in the lineup over him (though he’s embracing his well-earned liberation in Montreal). Anyway, it’s over, so I’ll stop bitching now. I just found the whole experiment curious. Distressing and curious.
  • It may take Greene, never the swiftest of players, some time to get back in the swing of things. Five games before the playoffs is good. He will run people over just to see how if feels, and get called twice for late interference.
  • Since the blockbuster Marian Gaborik trade, Columbus is in the hunt for the 8th seed, and coming in on an 8-2-0 streak. Highly motivated? Check. Fighting for their lives? Yes. However, the Kings get them on their fifth game in seven days, so that may help.
  • Nikita Nikitin, one of their better defensemen, has been battling a lower body injury. He tried to play in their last game, but is still hurt, and is sitting again tonight.
  • Fun with Numbers. Mathematical!

Team GP Points ROW Goal
Differential

Possession Ranking

PP% PK%
Kings (4th, West) 43 53 22 +15 1st (58.1%) 20.3 (9th) 81.9 (16th)
Lumbus (8th, West) 44 49 16 -3 26th (44.99%) 12.7 (29th) 84.3 (7th)

In the past, the Kings miraculously squeaking out a playoff spot was enough to keep me content. Now I want home ice more than I can say. They need to take advantage of this tired team.

Go Kings go!

Talking Points