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Preview: Oilers vs. Kings, So It Begins

Posted on by Filip Canda

How To Watch

Game Time: 7:00 PM Pacific

TV: Fox Sports Los Angeles

Radio: LA Kings Audio Network

Opposition: Copper and Blue

What To Watch

The Los Angeles Kings officially begin their 2019-20 season. After posting up only 71 points a season ago, the Kings want to start on a highnote. The Edmonton Oilers will have something to say about it.

On the Opening Night for the Kings, it will be already a second game for the Oilers. In Wednesday’s Pacific Division showdown, the Oilers took down the Vancouver Canucks. However, it was a costly victory. Edmonton lost defenseman Adam Larsson for up to eight weeks with a broken foot.

The Oilers brought in some new faces. Riley Sheahan, Josh Archibald, Gaetan Haas, and Tomas Jurco are their low-risk offseason acquisitions. Nevertheless, the Oilers already have to deal with loads of injuries. Jurco re-joined Oilers´ practice on Friday, Sheahan currently spends his time on the injured reserve, Larsson is a big blow for them as well.

On Wednesday, the Oilers opened the scoring, thanks to Leon Draisaitl. The Canucks responded in a big way with coming back to lead 2-1. After that go-ahead-goal midway through the third period by Vancouver, the Oilers responded with Zack Kassian burying one, followed by the magic of Connor McDavid to win it. When you are Los Angeles, you better watch out when McDavid and Draisaitl are on the ice.

Last season, both teams split home games. The Oilers won twice at home, the Kings repeated it. Last time both teams met, it was a clash of two squads with zero playoff aspirations late in March, when Edmonton trashed the Kings in an 8-4 fashion. From their last seven visits to Edmonton, the Kings have a big amount of one total win. But it was a 5-0 win, so, that works, right?

That was also the only Kings´ victory in the Oilers´ new barn, which isn’t really that new anymore. Last campaign, the Kings opened the season with a home overtime loss against the Sharks. Their first roadie was in Winnipeg – a 2-1 loss versus the Jets.

How would the Kings lineup for this one? It’s expected Tobias Bjornfot will make his NHL debut tonight, alongside Drew Doughty. Not a big pressure at all for the 18-year-old Swedish left-handed defenseman.

Aside from Bjornfot, we have a few more things to watch in the Kings’ regular-season debut. Blake Lizotte is poised to make his NHL debut tonight as well. How will Ben Hutton look like in his Kings’ debut? The 26-year-old left-hander has a lot to prove. Tyler Toffoli enters his contract year. Jonathan Quick has to watch his net after Cal Petersen posted a 41-save shutout last night for the Reign in the AHL. However, Quick is your number one goaltender, at least for the time being.

Projected Oilers Lineup

Draisaitl – McDavid – Kassian
Nygard – Nugent-Hopkins – Neal
Granlund – Haas – Chiasson
Khaira – Cave – Archibald

Klefbom – Persson
Nurse – Russell
Manning – Benning

Smith
Koskinen

Projected Kings Lineup

Iafallo–Kopitar–Brown
Kovalchuk–Kempe–Carter
Wagner–Lizotte–Toffoli
Clifford–Amadio–Lewis

Bjornfot–Doughty
Martinez–Roy
Hutton–Walker

Quick
Campbell

Kings Notes:

See what the Kings Head Coach had to say about the Opening Night roster. Of course, Todd McLellan was fired last year by Edmonton. Sweet revenge for him?

It was a big and sweet win for the Ontario Reign last night in their AHL Opener!

The Kings will employ speed when facing speedy forwards as Connor McDavid tonight. Nevermind reading about the Ducks!

Drew Doughty, apart from McLellan giving him a nod of confidence, will play tonight in a bit different situation.

The 2019-20 season for the Los Angeles Kings begins tonight! It starts with a big Pacific Division matchup. Will the Kings win big? Maybe not. Does that mean we cannot be excited about it? Heck no! Enjoy hockey, guys.

Talking Points