Hello, old friend.
Could it have gone any other way? It seemed like destiny for these two familiar foes to meet once again in Round 1. For the third consecutive season, the Kings will take on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for LA. They went through a record-breaking winning streak on the road, a span of three wins in seventeen games leading into the All-Star break, and eventually fired their head coach. Although many things have changed, there is still plenty of reason to hold onto that optimism many felt heading into 2023-24.
Last summer, GM Rob Blake and staff constructed a roster built for a specific purpose with specific personnel. We took a look at the addition of PL Dubois, the team’s current health, a rebuilt penalty kill and several other keys to victory in our series preview here:
When playing at their best this season, LA has proven to be a top team in the league. Now it comes down to consistently putting up that effort every night from here on out. They’ll need to do it at least four times in the next seven games to advance to Round 2 for the first time since 2014.
Statistically Speaking
— The Kings have won the first game of the series in each of the past two playoff matchups against the Oilers, winning by a score of 4-3 on both May 2, 2022, and April 17, 2023.
— LA’s 2024 postseason appearance marks the team’s 33rd qualification for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in franchise history. In total, 14 players from last year’s Kings playoff roster return, including the team’s leading playoff scorer Adrian Kempe (5G, 3A), who eclipsed the 70-point mark (28-47=75) for the first time in his career this season. Also returning is this year’s leading goal scorer Trevor Moore, who became the first California-born skater to record a 30-goal season (31G) for a California-based team.
— This also marks the first time the Kings have reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons since qualifying five years in a row from 2010-14. That stretch included the first two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014) in franchise history.
— Captain Anze Kopitar and alternate captain Drew Doughty are each set to skate in their ninth Stanley Cup Playoffs. Dave Taylor (13) and Luc Robitaille (10) occupy the top two spots in Kings history. Entering tonight, Kopitar (92 GP) and Doughty (90 GP) sit in the top-five in playoff games played in a Kings uniform and are respectively set to match, and eclipse, Robitaille’s franchise record of 94 Stanley Cup Playoff game appearances.
— Kempe enters tonight with 14 points (7G, 7A) in 13 career Playoff contests against the Oilers, which leads the team in postseason scoring dating back to the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Over the past two series against Edmonton, Kempe paces LA skaters in several additional categories, including shots (64), even-strength goals (5), even-strength points (8) and power-play points (6).
— Trevor Lewis is set to skate in his 100th career Stanley Cup Playoff game tonight, and 80th in an LA Kings uniform. Lewis, who was a member of the Stanley Cup runs in 2012 and 2014, is third amongst active Kings skaters with 23 points (11G, 12A) for the franchise in the playoffs.
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Oilers
Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Fiala – Lizotte – Lewis
Byfield – Dubois – Grundstrom
Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Roy
Englund – Spence
Talbot (starter)
Rittich
Possible scratches: Kaliyev, Moverare
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm Pacific Time and will be televised by Bally Sports.
Across the Ice
Here is how Edmonton is expected to line up for tonight’s contest:
Henrique – McDavid – Hyman
RNH – Draisaitl – Foegele
Holloway – McLeod – Perry
Kane* – Carrick – Janmark
* Kane is expected to play, despite reports of a sports hernia. If he is a late scratch, look for Janmark to slide over to LW and Brown to draw in at LW4.
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Ceci
Kulak – Desharnais
Skinner
Pickard
On This Day in Kings History
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