‘Wait, the Kings and Bruins are playing each other during preseason?’
We’ll assume that’s what most people are thinking, considering the two clubs haven’t met up for an exhibition game since 1995 at The Fabulous Forum.
Just don’t look for it to become a regular thing anytime soon. Thursday’s contest will be played in Quebec City, as the Kings are holding a nonconventional portion of training camp for the second consecutive season due to ongoing construction at Crypto.com Arena — something discussed in further detail here.
Like it was in Australia last year, this time around is another opportunity for the team to bond and grow together before the regular season kicks off next week.
Tonight’s matchup also serves as one of two final preseason games on the Kings 2024-25 exhibition schedule. And there are still key roster decisions to be made.
Lineup wise, head coach Jim Hiller will not only have to decide which handful of players he wants to get one last look at, but also where to slot certain guys in. Among those questions, how to align the top defensive pair is paramount. Who will he pencil in next to Mikey Anderson while Drew Doughty is out? Jordan Spence was given an opportunity to try out for the spot in Anaheim earlier this week, and Hiller conveyed he was impressed with the duo’s performance. Another viable option is Kyle Burroughs, so look for that to get sorted out over the next few days.
Shifting over to Boston, that’s where all the media attention is sure to be on Thursday given where things stand with goalie Jeremy Swayman’s ongoing contract negotiations. It’s a bit of a circus at the moment, with both sides airing their grievances publicly.
Clarkie’s Corner
Brandt Clarke, who sat out Monday’s game in Anaheim, is expected to draw back in. As he reflected back upon the Kings win in Ontario over the weekend, he liked what he saw out on the ice — especially seeing guys like Adrian Kempe being ultra-aggressive and mixing it up with opposing players.
“That’s just the attitude the whole organization has had since we showed back up for camp,” Clarke told Mayor’s Manor. “He’s a big leader on this team and that emphasizes the point when he’s doing those types of things too. I also think it shows that he’s acknowledging the other guys who are [playing hard like that], the ones who are maybe a little lower in the lineup. So, it goes a long way, for sure.”
It’s been a much-talked about narrative over the past week, but Clarke is in line to get some additional special teams minutes early in the season — including on the penalty kill, a situation Hiller used him in late in the game on Saturday.
“It means a lot, you know?” Clarke noted. “I want to be put in those spots. I want to help this team late, regardless of if we’re up or down a goal. So, if I can just build their trust in all aspects, that’s all I’m trying to do.”
Hiller’s Approach in Quebec City
“We only have two more exhibition games and then we have to get going in Buffalo,” Hiller told Mayor’s Manor before departing Los Angeles. “What we feel like is, we want to look probably as close to our team as possible in [the Quebec City] games. There will be a couple guys still in and out, but we want to really look at those two games as almost an 84-game regular season. These two games are games that we have to get ourselves ready to play as a full team.”
Forward Andre Lee is expected be one of those guys on the outside looking in who is likely going to get one final look, against the Bruins or Panthers.
Statistically Speaking
— Mikey Anderson has served as alternate captain twice during preseason thus far. Hiller wasn’t shy in saying he needed more from his young defenseman here.
— Alex Laferriere has power play goals in back-to-back games. He’s out tonight, though.
— Two. That’s the number of remaining preseason games that will allegedly be televised. While nothing has officially been announced, indications are Thursday’s game will be on ESPN+ and Saturday’s game against Florida will supposedly be carried locally on KCAL. We shall see.
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Bruins
The following players are all on the trip to Quebec City; we’ve initially aligned them using some of what Hiller has been showing during camp thus far. Article will be updated following morning skate should there be any tweaks.
Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
Jeannot – Danault – Moore
Fiala – Byfield – Foegele
Lee – Thomas – Lewis
Anderson – Spence
Gavrikov – Burroughs
Edmundson – Clarke
Kuemper (starter)
Rittich
Copley
Possible scratches: (F) Fagemo, Studnica, Turcotte and (D) Englund, Jones
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 4:00 pm Pacific Time and is listed as airing on ESPN+. Additionally, a Kings radio feed is available on the ESPN LA app (which is the new home for Kings radio this season, they’ve moved off of the iHeart platform).
More on the ongoing TV situation here.
Across the Ice
Boston is coming off a 4-1 victory over the Flyers on Tuesday. Here is how they lined up for that contest:
Zacha – Lindholm – Pastrnak
Marchand – Coyle – Geekie
Frederic- Johnson – Brazeau
Beecher – Kastelic – Koepke
Lindholm – McAvoy
Lindholm – Mcavoy
Zadorov – Peeke
Bussi
On This Day in Kings History
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