First off: note that we linked to Stanley Cup of Chowder on the main page. Comment in their open thread, help Boston, win a prize or two. Great stuff.
Secondly: Jonathan Bernier gets the start. If Darryl Sutter sticks with Quick for the playoff run, we may not see him again. But we wouldn’t have a chance at home ice without him. Three cheers!
Los Angeles Kings v Minnesota Wild (Xcel Energy Center)
Time: 5.00 PM
TV: Fox Sports West
Enemy reading: Hockey Wilderness
Kings (projected) lineup:
Dustin Brown – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Dustin Penner – Mike Richards – Jeff Carter
Dwight King – Jarret Stoll – Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford – Brad Richardson – Jordan Nolan
Robyn Regehr – Drew Doughty
Rob Scuderi – Slava Voynov
Jake Muzzin – Matt Greene
Jonathan Bernier
Wild (projected) lineup:
Zach Parise – Mikko Koivu – Charlie Coyle
Cal Clutterbuck – Matt Cullen – Devin Setoguchi
Pierre-Marc Bouchard – Kyle Brodziak – Jason Pominville
Jake Dowell – Zenon Konopka – Torrey Mitchell
Ryan Suter – Jonas Brodin
Clayton Stoner – Jared Spurgeon
Justin Falk – Tom Gilbert
(Thanks LAKI for the lineups)
There isn’t much time before puck drop, so bear with me. Here are some facts about the game tonight!
- Minnesota needs 55 points to guarantee a playoff spot. They have 51, with three games remaining.
- Los Angeles needs 61 points to guarantee fourth place. They have 57, with three games remaining.
- The Kings have scored on the power play in eight consecutive games.
- Josh Harding has been nominated for the Masterson Trophy. This backup goaltender has taken a different path than Bernier to nomination; he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and has battled back.
- Jonathan Bernier has six career shutouts. Three are against Minnesota.
- The Wild have lost five straight at home. Their last win at home? Against us on March 30.
- Minnesota has responded to their slump with a roster shakeup. You’ll remember the Kings’ shakeup (excluding Jeff Carter) last season was to get rid of a couple vets and call up some energetic rookies. The Wild, however, sent down rookies Jason Zucker and Mikael Granlund and called up veterans Stephane Veilleux and Jake Dowell. Michael Russo has more on the move.
Hockey Wilderness has their preview here and a gameday post here. See you in the game thread!