Preseason Preview #3: Los Angeles Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks

HOW TO WATCH

Game Time: 6:00 PM Pacific
TV: NHL Network; Prime Ticket
Radio: iHeart Radio
Stream: FOX Sports GO
The Opposition: Nucks Misconduct

WHO AND WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• Trevor Lewis might be on the fourth line but let’s just go ahead and say that that line, plus the Doughty/Brickley pairing, will be taking the opening shift in today’s game, being that it’s in Salt Lake City and all. Lots of teams travel to far-flung places for the pre-season, but this is Lewis’ first ever chance to truly play at home. It’ll surely be an emotional game for him and Brickley, and hopefully we get to see strong performance from them both. /

Trevor Lewis returns to Utah tonight. He has played in around 700 NHL games -- preseason, regular season and playoffs. Tonight is his first "home" game. pic.twitter.com/CU9fzlXtZ4

— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) September 24, 2018

• With this being the first Kings pre-season game that isn’t a split squad, it also marks the first time we’re seeing the lineup take shape in a way that more closely resembles what the opening night roster could be. And there are definitely a few surprises, namely Ilya Kovalchuk and Adrian Kempe flanking Jeff Carter on the second line and Alex Iafallo regaining his spot next to Anze Kopitar. With essentially two roster spots up for grabs, thanks to the injury to Jonny Brodzinski and the ongoing back rehab for Gabe Vilardi, the Kings suddenly have some holes to fill, and some flexibility to move players around to find what works best.
• Speaking of Brodzinski, Michael Del Zotto, whose shove sent Brodzinski into the boards to result in his injury, is expected to be in the lineup tonight for Vancouver. The hit didn’t seem malicious, more of a play too close to the boards that went awry, and aside from some shoving immediately afterwards, nothing else came of it. Still, if tempers start to flare tonight, keep an eye on Del Zotto.
• Jonathan Quick is expected to get the whole game tonight. With a higher quality team in front of him, it should be a better outing than his previous pre-season appearance (17 saves on 23 shots against Vegas).
• For Vancouver, it looks like Elias Pettersson, the Canucks’ 2017 first round pick, will get the night off. The shifty forward has already been making his presence known in the pre-season and it’s easy to guess that he’s going to be a thorn in the Kings’ side for quite some time to come. /

The #Canucks power-play connects for two goals, with help from Elias Pettersson.@BudweiserCanada Highlights | https://t.co/fqm9qz6dHq pic.twitter.com/Gq1miV5NTw

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 23, 2018

LINEUPS

Los Angeles Kings

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Carter - Kovalchuk
Pearson - Amadio - Toffoli
Clifford - Thompson - Lewis

Brickley - Doughty
Muzzin - Martinez
Phaneuf - Fantenberg

Quick
Campbell

Vancouver Canucks

Goldobin - Horvat - Boeser
Baertschi - Sutter - Gagner
Archibald - Gaudette - Virtanen
Schaller - Granlund - Motte

Edler - Stecher
Juolevi - Gudbranson
Del Zotto - Biega

Markstrom
Nilsson

Getting ready for #LAKings hockey @vivintarena #SaltLakeShootout pic.twitter.com/ASiLmsl8ni

— Dave Joseph (@davejosephla) September 24, 2018