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Thursday night marks the official end of the regular season, as the Kings are set to host the Blackhawks for their final contest of 2023-24. Of course, LA will be a part of this year’s postseason action, they just still don’t know where they’re headed for Game 83.
Some clarity was provided when Dallas clinched the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed last night. That eliminated Vancouver from LA’s list of potential opponents. There are now only two possible outcomes for the Kings, it’s either a third straight matchup with the Edmonton Oilers or a showdown with the Stars.
At least for one night, those hoping for an Edmonton rematch will need to become Anaheim Ducks fans for the next 24 hours. Orange County’s hockey team will need to summon a victory against the Vegas Golden Knights (in any fashion) to keep that hope alive. Additionally, LA will need to take care of Chicago at home. If that all happens, the Kings will draw the Oilers. Any other scenario and it’s a date in Dallas for coach Jim Hiller and squad.
All that really matters in the here and now is finishing strong and playing good hockey heading into playoffs. A win tonight would at the very least give the team something to build off of going forward.
Individually speaking, tonight is really all about Quinton Byfield and rookie Alex Turcotte. The latter was just recalled from AHL Ontario, where he wrapped up a conditioning assignment after missing a month of action due to this play against the Blackhawks in March:
In a sense, this will be his final audition to impress Hiller and Kings management if he wants to see any more NHL action this season. With forward Carl Grundstrom expected to rejoin the Kings from his own AHL conditioning assignment this weekend, the top 12 forward spots are likely spoken for, with Turcotte’s best hope likely being an extra forward who may draw in later in the series.
Meanwhile, Byfield has $425k on the line tonight. He’s one goal and one assist shy of triggering separate $212k bonuses in each category. It’s been more than 15 games since Byfield scored, a remarkable downturn given his consistent play earlier this season.
That topic, along with the 2023-24 LA Kings Media Awards were key points of conversation (and debate) during this week’s Kings Of The Podcast episode posted here:
Statistically Speaking
— The Kings are aiming to sweep their season series against the Blackhawks for the sixth time in franchise history and first since the 2018-19 campaign (3-0-0). Thus far this year, they have claimed a pair of victories, both in March (5-0 W on Mar. 15; 6-2 W on Mar. 19).
— LA skates into their 2023-24 regular season finale having earned points in each of their last nine games (7-0-2) against the Blackhawks and in 16 of their last 19 overall (14-3-2), dating back to the 2016-17 season.
— Kevin Fiala has 18 points (9-9=18) in his last 14 games vs. Chicago, dating back to Dec. 1, 2018. He is also tied with Adrian Kempe (73 points) for the team lead in overall scoring this season.
— Highlighting that goaltending hasn’t been the Kings primary issue this season, the club enters tonight’s season finale ranking third in goals against this season (206) trailing the Winnipeg Jets (196) and Florida Panthers (198). The Kings have finished a season among the top three in goals against at season’s end five times in franchise history: 2017-18 (1st), 2015-16 (3rd), 2013-14 (1st), 2011-12 (2nd) and 1974-75 (2nd).
— Rookie Alex Laferriere has skated in 80 games this season, having only missed one game all year. That means he has lost his waiver exemption; and would now require waivers at any point in the future should the Kings want to send him to AHL Ontario.
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Blackhawks
Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Fiala – Dubois – Lewis
Laferriere – Lizotte – Turcotte
NOTE: Byfield and Laferriere were flipped at practice yesterday, Hiller has not confirmed that will stick for tonight.
Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Roy
Englund – Spence
Rittich (starter)
Talbot
Possible scratches: Kaliyev, Moverare
LTIR: Copley (out for the year), Grundstrom (assigned to AHL for conditioning)
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm Pacific Time and will be televised by Bally Sports.
For those live in attendance, the LA Kings Booster Club will offer their popular ‘Puck for a Buck’ contest — featuring Arthur Kaliyev for this game. Just $1 could win you an autographed puck from an NHL star. Visit their table outside sections 317-318 on the upper concourse for more information.
LA Royal Army, another fan support group, has a booth outside section 303. They do watch parties and other fun activities. Stop by and check them out.
Across the Ice
Chicago is coming off a 3-1 defeat to Vegas on Tuesday.
Here’s how they lined up for that one:
Bedard – Dickinson – Kurashev
Reichel – Athanasiou – Donato
Slaggert – Nazar – Anderson
Foligno – T. Johnson – Raddysh
Vlasic – Jones
Korchinski – Murphy
Tinordi – Megna
Mrazek
In their last 10 games, the Blackhawks are 3-7-0. As the away team, they’re 7-32-1 this season.
On This Day in Kings History
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