It’s a new day, and a new beginning.
That’s the hope in Kings-land, as the team looks to somehow bounce back from an embarrassing loss last time out when they take on the Devils in New Jersey later this evening. For the second contest of LA’s current four-game road trip, new head coach Jim Hiller and staff know they have their work cut out for them. However, they’ll be pulling at least one ace from whatever deck they’re holding, as forward Viktor Arvidssson is set to make his season debut after missing the last four months due to back surgery.
Coming out of their 10-day break, Hiller and the Kings could do no wrong last Saturday, with a dominant win over the Oilers. All of that positivity was quickly erased vs. the Sabres on Tuesday. So it wasn’t that surprising to see Hiller revise his forward lines at practice on Wednesday. Something has to change.
Mentally, this Kings squad appears to still be struggling with who they want to be as a team. It’s not a talent issue for this club right now, it’s a consistency problem. There hasn’t been any sustained success on the ice since November, and that’s likely very troubling for GM Rob Blake with the NHL trade deadline looming in the near future. Could LA become sellers? In theory, if they don’t start to win more hockey games, that option could be on the table. Thus, these next two weeks are crucial for the franchise.
Statistically Speaking
— Tonight’s matchup is a rematch of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. Interestingly, tonight will also mark the first time in NHL history where five Stanley Cup Final rematches will take place on the same day. In addition to the Kings-Devils tilt, the other games are: Avalanche-Lightning (2022 SCF), Ducks-Senators (2007 SCF), Penguins-Blackhawks (1992 SCF) and Canadiens-Rangers (1979 SCF).
— At even strength, Adrian Kempe has just five points (2G, 3A) in his last 14 games.
— Quinton Byfield has faced the Devils three times in his young career and has yet to score against them.
— Arvidsson has nine points (4G 5A) in 10 career games vs. New Jersey.
— No Devils player comes into tonight’s contest with a goal or assist streak longer than two games (Jack Hughes 2G, Erik Haula 2A).
— When the Kings head into an intermission with a lead, they usually win. LA is 16-2-4 when leading after 20 minutes and an even better 20-0-3 when leading after 40 minutes. New Jersey is equally tough if they hit the break with a lead, sitting at 17-2-1 when up entering the third period. Trailing after two periods is a different story. LA is just 2-14-2 in those scenarios, while New Jersey is a tad better at 7-17-1.
— Both clubs are about .500 when facing the other Conference. LA is 9-9-6 vs. the East this season, while New Jersey is 11-10-1 against the West.
— When it comes to goal scoring, first periods are when the Devils are stingy at both ends of the ice. They have given up just 47 goals in P1 (their lowest period) and scored only 46 in the opening frame (also their lowest total by period). Conversely, in a rather staggering difference, they have scored (69) and given up (66) around 50% more goals in the third.
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Devils
Byfield – Kopitar – Fiala
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Laferriere – Dubois – Kempe
JAD – Turcotte – Lewis
Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Roy
Englund – Spence
Rittich (starter)
Talbot
Likely scratches: Clarke, Kaliyev
Injured: Copley, Grundstrom, Lizotte (all on LTIR)
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 4:00 pm Pacific Time and will be televised by Bally Sports.
Across the Ice
New Jersey is coming off a 4-2 victory against the Predators on Tuesday.
Here’s how they lined up for that one:
Palat – Hischier – Bratt
Hughes – Haula – Toffoli
Meier – Lazar – Mercer
Holtz – Nosek – Bastian
Bahl – Nemec
Hughes – Marino
Smith – Miller
Daws
Schmid
In their last 10 games, the Devils are 5-5-0. As the home team, they’re 12-12-2 this season.
On This Day in Kings History
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