It will be a three games in four nights jaunt through Western Canada for the Kings this week. And they’ll be facing three tough teams in Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver.
Things kick off Monday night with a tilt against the Oilers and Connor McDavid.
Coming into play, LA and Edmonton are tied in points for third place in the Pacific Division. It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for both teams, starting behind the bench. Each club finds themselves with a different head coach than the one they began the campaign with. Yet, through all the highs and lows of 2023-24, the two longtime rivals are connected once again and could be headed toward another possible date in the postseason. Thus, this is another critical contest for both sides.
If Jim Hiller and his group are going to find success against the Oilers, they will likely have to avoid a special teams battle. Although LA has the league’s top penalty kill, Edmonton’s deadly power play has given LA plenty of headaches and playoff exits over the last couple of years. If the Kings can stay out of the penalty box and create chances at 5v5, they’ll have a good chance of leaving Rogers Place with two points.
We’re assuming David Rittich will get that start tonight. Regardless, whichever goalie doesn’t start in Edmonton should be expected to go in Calgary, given the back-to-back games. This will be updated after today’s pregame morning skate.
How Hiller deploys the defense on this road trip will be something of interest, considering Jacob Moverare has been recalled from AHL Ontario and will likely see playing time while the Kings are in Canada.
Statistically Speaking
— In the two previous matchups vs. the Oilers this season, the Kings goal scorers in regulation have been: Byfield (2), Kempe, Fiala, Lewis, and Dubois
— Here’s something odd, Edmonton had 26 shot attempts in each of those two contests. Perhaps the only other thing similar about them was that they were both played in LA. Beyond that, they were very different games in nearly every way.
— Alex Turcotte played only 3:32 when the Kings faced the Oilers a few ago, in Jim Hiller’s debut as head coach. It was Turcotte’s lowest TOI since being recalled. He’s an option to draw in tonight.
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Oilers
Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Fiala
Byfield – Dubois – Kaliyev
JAD – Lizotte – Lewis
Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Roy
Englund – Clarke
Rittich (starter)
Talbot
Likely scratches: Turcotte, Moverare
Injured: Anderson
LTIR: Arvidsson, Copley, Grundstrom
Kings Of The Podcast released an all new show, previewing the three-game swing through Western Canada:
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 6:00 pm Pacific Time and will be televised by Bally Sports.
Across the Ice
Edmonton is coming off a 6-3 defeat against the Flames on Saturday.
Here’s how they lined up for that one:
Foegele – McDavid – Hyman
Nugent-Hopkins – Draisaitl – Perry
Kane – McLeod – Janmark
Holloway – Ryan – Brown
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Ceci
Kulak – Desharnais
Skinner
In their last 10 games, the Oilers are 4-5-1. As the home team, they’re 17-8-2 this season.
On This Day in Kings History
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