Just over 24 hours after a thrilling overtime victory against Edmonton, coach Jim Hiller’s LA squad will get right back to business on Sunday evening; capping off a rare set of back-to-back home games with the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.
Depth scoring has been a key topic surrounding the Kings all season, yet things have really started to round into form over the past few weeks. After struggling to put the puck in the net at times during the first half, perhaps Saturday afternoon highlighted what the true potential of Hiller’s offense really is. In a game where Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar were held off the scoresheet — another rarity — it was Quinton Byfield who stepped up and provided the heavy lifting. To his credit, the young center has four goals in his last four contests and is driving the hottest line for the Kings right now, playing alongside Warren Foegele and Tanner Jeannot.
There’s an intensity and swagger to that line at the moment, and they’re collectively dominating opponents on a nightly basis. This is the Byfield most Kings fans have been waiting for this season. During his metamorphosis over the past few weeks, Byfield’s confidence is what sticks out above all other traits.
While hoping that Byfield’s line can continue to keep that momentum going tonight, Hiller also has several decisions to make. For starters, will he stay with an 11+7 configuration or return to a more traditional 12+6 after his team just played yesterday? If he does add a 12th forward to the mix, will it be Andre Lee (most likely) or Arthur Kaliyev — who recently returned from his AHL conditioning assignment? And what about the defense? If Kyle Burroughs sits, does that simply mean the other six blueliners remain in the lineup or will Andreas Englund draw in for the first time in over a month? He has to play at some point, right?
Hiller will meet with the media about an hour before game time to answer some of those questions.
Perhaps the only lineup change that comes with a little more certainly can be found it net. David Rittich should get the nod after Darcy Kuemper played vs. Edmonton.
Statistically Speaking
— Per statistician Blake Warye, yesterday against the Oilers, Byfield became the youngest Kings player to record a 3+ point game with the game-winning OT goal. The previous two youngest were Steve Duchesne in 1988 vs. the Islanders and Bernie Nicholls in 1984 vs. the Nordiques.
— More from Wayre: Before their 4-3 OT win over on Saturday, the Kings had lost eight straight games to the Oilers when trailing at any point in the game.
— Assuming Rittich starts tonight, it will be his 20th game of the season. He brings a 10-8-0 record, along with a 2.46 goals-against average and .891 save percentage.
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Wild
If there are any key changes during pregame warmups, this article will be updated.
Turcotte – Kopitar – Kempe
Foegele – Byfield – Jeannot
Fiala – Danault – Laferriere
Lee – Helenius – Thomas
Anderson – Gavrikov
Edmundson – Clarke
Moverare – Spence
Rittich (starter)
Kuemper
Likely scratches: (F) Kaliyev (D) Burroughs, Englund
Injured Reserve: Doughty, Lewis, Moore
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 6:00 pm Pacific Time and will be televised locally by KCAL. 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.
For those live in attendance, the LA Kings Booster Club will offer their popular ‘Puck for a Buck’ contest — featuring Brandt Clarke 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.
Across the Ice
Philadelphia is coming off a 3-1 win at Anaheim on Saturday. Here’s how they lined up for that contest:
Laughton – Couturier – Konecny
Foerster – Cates – Brink
Tippett – Frost – Michkov
Farabee – Poehling – Hathaway
York – Sanheim
Seeler – Ristolainen
Zamula – Drysdale
Ersson
On This Day in Kings History
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