New York Rangers @ Los Angeles Kings
Time: 7:30 Pacific
TV: Fox Sports West, MSG
Enemy Reading: Blueshirt Banter
Los Angeles Kings
Lucic – Kopitar – Versteeg
King – Shore – Toffoli
Clifford – Carter – Brown
Pearson – Lecavalier – Lewis
Scuderi – Doughty
Muzzin – Martinez
McNabb – Schenn
Quick
(Enroth)
Injured: Gaborik, Greene, Nolan Scratched: McBain, Andreoff
New York Rangers
Nash – Brassard – Zuccarello
Kreider – Stepan – Fast
Miller – Staal – Hayes
Glass – Moore – Stalberg
McDonagh – Girardi
Staal – Boyle
Yandle – Klein
Lundqvist
(Raanta)
Injured: Sharp, Klingberg, Benn, Janmark, Demers Scratched: Sceviour
Stats & Such
(Fancy stats courtesy War on Ice)
| Team | Kings | Stars |
| Record | 41-22-5 | 41-20-9 |
| Points | 87 | 91 |
| Division Rank | 1st | 1st |
| Streak | Won 1 | Lost 1 |
| Goals For/Game | 2.72 | 3.24 |
| Goals Against/Game | 2.26 | 2.9 |
| ES Goal % | 53.7 | 50.7 |
| ES Shot % | 54.6 | 50.6 |
| ES PDO | 99.8 | 99.4 |
| ES Corsi % | 56.0 | 53.0 |
| ES Fenwick % | 55.8 | 52.7 |
| ES Scoring Chance % | 54.2 | 53.9 |
| ES High-Danger SC % | 53.9 | 51.6 |
| Power Play % (Rank) | 21.6 (8th) | 22.4 (4th) |
| Penalty Kill % (Rank) | 81.3 (14th) | 80.8 (18th) |
| Starting Goalie (today) | Quick | Lehtonen |
| Goalie Record | 35-17-4 | 19-8-2 |
| Save % | .921 | .906 |
| ES Save % | .932 | .907 |
Notes:
- So, the day after the West’s marquee matchup (based on Stanley Cups), we get a game that technically is even better, between the West’s current division leaders. Neither is a runaway leader, especially compared to January 1, when the division leads for Dallas and LA were a combined 20 points. Despite Chicago and Anaheim putting together long winning streaks in 2016, though, the Stars and Kings are hanging on to coveted #1 spots.
- Dallas scores all the goals, LA gives up none of the goals.
- If the Stars had one area for improvement, it’s easily the goaltending. Lehtonen’s struggled to a .906 overall SV% and he’s actually been the better of the two goalies in the Stars’ expensive tandem.
- Hey, look, it’s Rumored Los Angeles King Kris Russell! LA went with a less expensive option in Rob Scuderi at the trade deadline, but the league’s leading shot-blocker found a taker in Dallas. Russell has been leading Dallas in ice time as of late, which isn’t a major surprise with Jason Demers, John Klingberg, and Jordie Benn out of the lineup. At any rate, it’s working out for them.
- LA won 5-0 on Monday over Chicago, while Dallas won 5-2 on Saturday over Chicago. Dallas has the extra days of rest, but LA has the absurd 80% winning percentage on day 2 of back-to-backs. Here goes!
- PREDICTION: Kings 3, Stars 2 (OT). Nick Shore with the winner off Kris Russell’s face.