Los Angeles Kings (7-6-0) @ Montreal Canadiens (11-1-1)
Start Time: 4:30 PM Pacific
TV: Fox Sports West
Radio: KABC AM 790
Video Streaming: Fox Sports Go (requires cable subscription)
Los Angeles Kings
Pearson – Kopitar – Purcell
King – Carter – Toffoli
Brown – Dowd – Setoguchi
Clifford – Shore – Lewis
Forbort – Doughty
Muzzin – Martinez
Gravel – Greene
Budaj
(Zatkoff)
Montreal Canadiens
Byron – Galchenyuk – Radulov
Andrighetto – Plekanec – Gallagher
Pacioretty – Danault – Shaw
Carr – Mitchell – Flynn
Emelin – Weber
Markov – Petry
Beaulieu – Hanley
Price
(Montoya)
What Kings fans are watching for: Has a team ever been shut out three times in a row and then shut out the other team three times in a row within the next month? I have no idea, but the Kings could pull it off.
What Canadiens fans are watching for: Carey Price has been covering up some major flaws in Montreal’s recent play. Namely: the Habs have allowed at least 38 shots in five straight games. The one with Montoya in net ended 10-0. The ones with Price in net? All wins for Montreal. Can the Canadiens get away with that against a team that hasn’t allowed 38 shots “since Christ was a child”?
Also, isn’t that Peter Budaj?
What everyone else is watching for: The Canadiens’ record at home: 8-0-0. Carey Price’s record overall: 8-0-0. The Canadiens’ record at home with Carey Price: 7-0-0. The Kings have scored 12 goals and allowed none in their two games. Montreal is the favorite, but this could be a fascinating game.
Stat of the Day: The Kings are have won twice as many games against Montreal at home (22) as they have on the road (11) in their history. However, they’ve won two of their last three in Montreal, both by shutout.
Key Players: Price and Budaj. Before an unlikely return to the NHL in Los Angeles, Budaj spent three years as Price’s backup in Montreal. He was adequate. So far this season, his save percentage of .919 easily outpaces the figures he put up for the Habs, but he certainly is no Price. A win over him would be pretty sweet though.
Prediction: Price outplays Budaj, but the Kings end Montreal’s home dominance.