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Preseason Game Day #1: Coyotes @ Kings

Arizona Coyotes @ Los Angeles Kings (Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield)

Time: 7:00 PM PST

TV: None
Radio: KABC 790

Enemy Reading: Five for Howling

Lineups:

Los Angeles Kings

Clifford–Andreoff–Auger
Pearson–Dowd–Toffoli
Mersch–Weal–O’Neill
Kempe–Shore–Zykov

Forbort–McBain
Gravel–McNabb
Schultz–LoVerde

Berube, Bartosak

Arizona Coyotes

TBD; Anders Lindback starts in goal.

Game Notes:

  • No TV or stream for tonight’s contest. Apologies to noted hockey fan Chloë Grace Moretz.

  • Brayden McNabb, the only guaranteed NHL d-man in the LA lineup, plays the right side tonight. If he ends up with Christian Ehrhoff, though, he’ll play the left side. Indication that a pairing with Alec Martinez is more likely, or just me reading too much into everything?

  • Michael Mersch, Jordan Weal, and Brian O’Neill are a line. Can anyone remind me whether they’ve played together before?
    That AHL Line
  • Meanwhile, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson play with Nic Dowd, which is sensible; put them with Nick Shore and he might get spoiled before he ends up on the fourth line on Opening Night. (Don’t cry for Shore, though, he gets to play with two guys who he could concievably form a potent trio with in a couple years.)
  • Derek Forbort and Jamie McBain are the two favorites for the much-coveted seventh defenseman spot. Will they work together and elevate each other’s games? Or will they pass it into each other’s feet to make the other guy look worse?
  • None of us get to watch, so follow along with the usual suspects, all the way through the guaranteed 3-on-3 overtime period!

Talking Points