- Joined
- Jul 28, 2004
- Messages
- 130,080
It was the Edmonton Oilers who got off to a hot start in their best-of-seven series Monday night, putting a beating on the Kings in a 7-4 goal fest at Rogers Place. Coming into Game Two, not much needs to be said for LA except for the obvious… they have to be better.
For lack of a better term, the performance on Monday was embarrassing. Most of the contest featured an LA team that looked outmatched in every aspect of the game. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid was able to do whatever he pleased at any place on the ice, leading to a five-assist effort from the future Hall of Fame forward. If LA doesn’t do a better job at containing Edmonton’s captain, this could be a short series.
Kings coach Jim Hiller is opting to go back to Cam Talbot as his starting goaltender for Game Two, despite seeing his veteran netminder allow six goals on Monday. Why is Talbot getting the nod over David Rittich. For one, the results on Monday were not directly the fault of Talbot’s play. Second, changing goalies so soon could suggest that Hiller has doubts about Talbot being capable of serving as the team’s No. 1 goaltender. While the leash might be shorter tonight, look for Talbot to start the night between the pipes again.
Statistically Speaking
— Each of the past two years, the team that lost Game One of the Kings-Oilers series then won Game Two.
— Anze Kopitar skated in his 93rd career Stanley Cup Playoffs game on Monday, he will tie Luc Robitaille tonight for the all-time franchise lead.
— Quinton Byfield had an assist in Game One, giving him nine total points (3G, 6A) over seven consecutive games against the Oilers, spread across both the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs.
— With an assist on Mikey Anderson’s first career playoff goal Monday night, Viktor Arvidsson has now recorded seven assists over his last seven playoff games against the Oilers.
— Rookie forward Alex Laferriere picked up his first postseason point (assist) in his first career Stanley Cup Playoffs game in Monday’s Game 1. Laferriere is the second rookie in franchise history to notch a point while making their postseason debut in Game 1 of Round One, behind defenseman Sean Durzi. He also became only the fourth Kings rookie to record a point during their first game of Stanley Cup Playoffs within the last 30 seasons.
— Adrian Kempe’s goal in Monday’s series-opener was his eighth career postseason marker against the Edmonton Oilers, passing Wayne Gretzky for sole possession of the fourth-most playoff goals against the Oilers in Kings history.
— Kempe enters tonight with 16 points (8g, 8A) in 14 career playoff contests against the Oilers, which leads the team in postseason scoring dating back to the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Throughout the team’s three series against the Oilers, Kempe paces Kings skaters in several additional categories, including goals (8), shots (69), even-strength goals (6), even-strength points (10) and powerplay points (6).
— Trevor Lewis skated in his 100th career Stanley Cup Playoff game on Monday, making him the eighth skater selected in the 2006 NHL Draft to reach the century mark… and just the second U.S.-born skater to do so, joining Phil Kessel (100GP).
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
Kane – McLeod – Perry
Holloway – Carrick – Janmark
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Ceci
Kulak – Desharnais
Skinner
Pickard
On This Day in Kings History
RELATED CONTENT:
Follow @mayorNHL
Continue reading...
