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Preview: Game Day #70, Kings @ Ducks

Posted on by Eric Kveton

Los Angeles Kings @ Anaheim Ducks (Honda Center)

Time: 7:30 PM PST

TV: NBCSN, SportsNet

Enemy Reading: Anaheim Calling

Lineups:

Los Angeles Kings

Gaborik–Kopitar–Brown
Lewis–Carter–Toffoli
King–Shore–Williams
Clifford–Andreoff–Nolan

Regehr–Doughty
Muzzin–Greene
Mcnabb–Sekera

Quick
(Jones)

Scratched: McBain; Injured: Pearson, Stoll, Martinez; Suspended: Voynov

Anaheim Ducks

Maroon–Getzlaf–Perry
Beleskey–Kesler–Palmieri
Cogliano–Thompson–Silfverberg
Fleischmann–Rakell–Etem

Lindholm–Beauchemin
Fowler–Despres
Stoner–Wisniewski

Gibson
(Andersen)

Scratched; Sekac, Holzer; Injured: Jackman, Vatanen

Obligatory Standings Update (as of March 17, 2015)

Pacific Division Standings
Rank Team DIV GP W L OT P ROW
1 Anaheim P 71 44 20 7 95 36
2 Vancouver P 69 40 25 4 84 36
3 Los Angeles
 P 69 34 22 13
 81 32
4 Calgary P 70 38 27 5 81 34
5 San Jose P 70 34 28 8 76 31
Wild Card Standings
Rank Team DIV GP W L OT P ROW
1 Minnesota C 70 39 24 7 83 36
2 Winnipeg C 70 35 23 12 80 29
3 Calgary P 70 38 27 5 81 34
4 San Jose P 70 34 28 8 76 31
5 Colorado C 69 32 26 11 75 23
6 Dallas C 70 32 28 10 74 29

Game Notes:

  • Bruce Boudreau was quoted by Curits Zupke as saying that they hope the Kings don’t make the playoffs. Regardless of how lighthearted the comment was, it’s hilarious…
  • … especially since, once again, Anaheim is going to win the regular season series. And the regular season points race.
  • Every team aside from Calgary has taken care of business over the last two days, including Los Angeles. For that reason the latest standings show LA in and Calgary out. LA’s the only bubble team in action tonight, so all eyes to Anaheim.
  • Quite a few differences in Anaheim’s lineup since the teams last faced off on February 27. Unfortunately, they all look like improvements to me….
  • Oh, and Sami Vatanen is still injured. That’s probably the silveriest lining for LA.
  • (Spell-check doesn’t seem to have a problem with the world “silveriest.” How about that?!)
  • As for the Kings, the only change from last game is that Jarret Stoll is still out and Andy Andreoff is in. Can he build on his recent momentum and shut down Rickard Rakell’s line? Only time will tell!
  • John Gibson has been really good lately, but he also hasn’t had to face Trevor Lewis. To his credit, Lewis has been useful for a lot of reasons other than “He’s Gibson’s kryptonite” lately.
  • Do your best to endure NBCSN’s admiration of Chicago and New York until this game begins. At least this one fits the “Wednesday Night Rivalry” bill.
  • PREDICTION: 3-1 Kings. Goals from Lewis, Brown, and a third-liner of some sort.

Talking Points