Just like that, the 2024 Rookie Faceoff will be wrapping up on Monday with the host team set to play in the tournament finale — as is usually the tradition. It will be a game between the Kings and Ducks, which is usually highly entertaining anytime the two SoCal rivals hook up. However, there are a few additional storylines worth following.
For starters, the Kings have yet to win a game. Sure, the scores don’t really mean anything, and they’ve yet to devise a system where there’s actually a tournament winner. Regardless of what some say publicly, nobody wants to end the event having gone 0-3.
Overall, here is how the Kings have fared since the first Rookie Faceoff in Las Vegas six years ago:
2018 – 0 wins
2019 – 1 win
2021 – 2 wins
2022 – 2 wins
2023 – 0 wins
Looking at winless record last year comes with two additional points. Of course, going 0-3 in back-to-back years isn’t a good look. Digging deeper, though, the Kings lost their first two games last year by one goal each. Then, in the 2023 finale, Anaheim downed LA 4-2. Can they flip the script this time around?
There will be some lineup changes for today. Word is, defenseman Brandt Clarke will not play (which was expected from the onset of the weekend). Franky Pinelli is said to still be in the mix as an option. He served as the team captain on Friday. Yet, when he and Clarke (who wore a ‘A’ on Friday) sat out Saturday’s game, coach Marco Sturm opted to not have any Kings players wear a letter vs. Utah. As of now, we’re expecting Pinelli to return as captain and defenseman Cole Krygier most likely to serve as the alternate.
Jakub Dvorak is another name to watch. He had a rough overtime on Saturday and has already played two games. Given the Kings desire to rotate playing time for as many guys as possible, it’s at least a consideration that he’ll be rested today. We’ll have to see.
Perhaps the only things pretty set in stone are the goalies. Kings 20024 draftee Carter George is expected to get the start after coming on in relief of Erik Portillo on Friday. How much time he gets vs. Anaheim will be interesting, as we believe management also wants to get another look at QMJHL product Samuel St-Hilaire. He’s a camp invitee at the moment but is under heavy consideration for a contract offer soon.
GAME 3: LOS ANGELES vs. ANAHEIM
Puck drop is scheduled for 3:30pm PT.
Kings Projected Lineup
Greentree – Pinelli – Jamsen
Ziemmer – Wise – Brodzinski
Davis – Woodworth – Lawrence
Neutens – Caderoth – Parker-Jones
Dvorak – Mania
Booth – Millar
Krygier – Vaughn
George *
St-Hilaire *
* Both goalies are expected to play in the game.
Likely scratches: (F) Moynihan, Olson, Tulk (D) Clarke, Rowe, Wooley (G) Hay, Parsons, Portillo
Ducks Projected Lineup
Sidorov – Gauthier – Colangelo
Pastujov – Terrance – Masse
Myatovic – Blais – Pitre
Gazizov – Procyszyn – Wiebe
Hinds – Luneau
Dionicio – Warren
Smith – Port
Clang
Buteyets
Note: This is the lineup they used in Game 1 on Friday, as some guys who played on Sunday are expected to rest. We will update what’s above when more information is made available later this afternoon.
FREE ROOKIE FACEOFF STREAM
As reported on Thursday, all games at the 2024 Rookie Faceoff will be streamed without regional restrictions. This is a huge step forward for the NHL, who cleared such a move for the first time in tournament history.
All three Kings games will feature play-by-play by Josh Schaefer and color commentary from Daryl Evans.
WATCH: www.LAKings.com/rookie-faceoff
2024 ROOKIE FACEOFF SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 13
Game 1 – San Jose 3, Utah 2
Game 2 – Anaheim 4, Colorado 3
Game 3 – Vegas 2, Los Angeles 0
Saturday, Sept. 14
Game 1 – Seattle vs. Colorado, 3:00 p.m.
Game 2 – Utah vs. Los Angeles, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 15
Game 1 – Vegas vs. Seattle, 1:00 p.m.
Game 2 – Anaheim vs. San Jose, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 16
Game 1 – Colorado vs. San Jose, 11:30 a.m.
Game 2 – Utah vs. Vegas, 12:30 p.m.
Game 3 – Anaheim vs. Los Angeles, 3:30 p.m.
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