Los Angeles Kings v Anaheim Ducks (Honda Center)
Time: 6.00 PM
TV: NHL Network, Fox Sports West
Enemy reading: Anaheim Calling
Ducks (projected) lineup:
Perry-Getzlaf-Ryan
Etem-Cogliano-Selanne
Lombardi-Koivu-Winnik
Beleskey-Steckel-Palmieri
Beauchemin-Souray
Fowler-Allen
Sbisa-Lovejoy
Hiller?
Injured: Bonino (lower body); Scratched: Dvorak, Holland, Staubitz, Lydman
Kings (projected) lineup:
Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Clifford-Richards-Carter
King-Stoll-Lewis
Richardson-Fraser-Nolan
Muzzin-Doughty
Scuderi-Voynov
Ellerby-Regehr
Bernier
Injured: Greene (back), Mitchell (knee), Penner (upper body); Scratched: Toffoli, Martinez
Game notes:
- The SoCal goalie carousel continues. Jonathan Bernier is confirmed for tonight’s game, which is the right choice given the back-to-back, although Jonathan Quick was quite good in net last night. The Ducks last played on Friday, but Viktor Fasth was, umm, not so quick. Not sure if Jonas Hiller is actually getting the start, but that’s my guess.
- The Ducks are still, somehow, infuriatingly, owning the Pacific, eight points up on the Kings and nine points up on the Sharks (although the Sharks have a game in hand), riding (STILL) the highest PDO in the League. Stupid shortened season.
- Unlike the Kings owning the Oilers in their last game, the Ducks looked particularly uninspired during their last game, against Dallas. Still, they were missing Ryan Getzlaf – unarguably the team’s MVP this season – who looks to be back tonight.
- Fun with numbers:
Team GP Points ROW Goal
DifferentialHome/Away
RecordPP% PK% Kings (4th, West) 38 47 21 +19 8-9-2 19.6 (11th) 81.6 (16th) Ducks (2nd, West) 38 55 20 +22 14-5-0 22.6 (5th) 80.0 (21st) - As Eric noted in his recap, the third line was pretty great last night. Good job, third line!! Keep it up. (I like to give the players these little shout-outs because obviously they read Jewels from the Crown very, very closely.)
- Ducks Suck. Go Kings Go.