Since we last tangled with the New Jersey Devils…
IN: Simon Gagne (Kings), Peter Sykora, Henrik Tallinder (Devils)
OUT: Adam Larsson, Peter Harrold, Jacob Josefson (Devils); Brad Richardson, Kyle Clifford, Andrei Loktionov (Kings)
Enemy Reading: In Lou We Trust
Lineups:
Parise-Zajac-Kovalchuk
Sykora-Elias-Zubrus
Ponikarovsky-Henrique-Clarkson
Carter-Gionta-Bernier
Greene-Fayne
Salvador-Zidlicky
Volchenkov-Tallinder
Brodeur
Kings lineup:
Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Penner-Richards-Carter
King-Stoll-Lewis
Gagne-Fraser-Nolan
Scuderi-Doughty
Mitchell-Voynov
Martinez-Greene
Quick
Tallinder hasn’t played for months, but DeBoer thought he looked ready in practice. He is larger than Harrold, although Peter was pretty effective Corsi-wise.
Elias shifts back to center, where he should be more effective.
Gagne should be in again for the Kings, who will be trying not to think of the implications of this game all night. It’s worked out almost every game for them so far. Can they maintain preternatual focus tonight?
Let’s see what happens. Puck drops in the biggest game of the year after 5.