Coming off the most exciting 24 hours of the Kings season, where the team put up 14 goals in two contests, it will be right back to business on Tuesday night. The New York Rangers are in town to finish off a three-game homestand for Los Angeles.
This past weekend was plain silly, as the Kings put up seven goals in back-to-back games in an offensive explosion not many thought this team was capable of producing with their current roster. It’s unrealistic to expect that output to continue, but if coach Jim Hiller’s team continues to dominate teams like they have been of late, home-ice advantage in the postseason is there for the taking.
Even more meaningful is the production from Andrei Kuzmenko over the last two games. LA’s lone Trade Deadline acquisition was absent from the scoresheet until Saturday, which began a three-point stretch (2G, 1A). He looks more and more comfortable every game playing alongside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe — which adds even more of a threat to Hiller’s new look offense.
Forward Trevor Moore was a late scratch from Sunday’s lineup. However, it was said to be day-to-day (upper body), so we’ll assume he’s back in tonight. Should he be unable to go, Hiller could opt to roll with Trevor Lewis for a second straight game or give Akil Thomas his first action since March 1 at St. Louis.
Lost in all of the various narratives over the past few days is the fact the Kings set a record for most consecutive games at home with at least one point; a streak that has not hit 14 games. Going 11-0-3 in that span, Hiller’s group will look to add to that total tonight vs. the Rangers. There is said to be a good chance former Kings goalie — and future Hall of Famer — Jonathan Quick will get the start in net for New York. Nothing was confirmed during their afternoon practice at Crypto.com Arena on Monday.
Yesterday also saw an imporatant article released re: the contract status of six Kings prospects:
Statistically Speaking
— The Kings currently sit second in the Pacific Division. They’re tied with third-place Edmonton at 87 points, yet LA is ahead of them due to having played one fewer game (69 to 70). Regardless of tonight’s outcome, the Kings will remain in second place because they already have four more regulation wins. However, all of their ‘games in hand’ will be gone. LA and Edmonton will begin tomorrow having each played 70 regular season games. First place Vegas will have played 71.
— How hot is Quinton Byfield right now:
— Forward Warren Foegele had a different sort of hat trick on Sunday, scoring his 100th career goal in his 500th career NHL game. He also secured his second consecutive 20-goal campaign. He enters tonight with six points (2G, 4A) in his last five games against the Rangers.
— Here’s an interesting one: Brandt Clarke, Tanner Jeannot, and Akil Thomas each notched their first points against the Rangers in their respective careers with assists in the Kings’ 5-1 victory on Dec. 14, 2024.
— With consecutive 7-2 victories over the weekend, the Kings scored seven goals in back-to-back games for the 17th time in history and the first time since April 1 and 3, 1995. It also marked the first time in team history that the Kings had 16 different skaters record a point in a single contest. This came just one day after all 12 forwards record at least one point in Saturday’s contest (something LA hadn’t done in over 50 years).
— In their last ten meetings, LA is 5-4-1 against the Rangers.
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Rangers
If there are any key changes during pregame warmups, this article will be updated.
Kuzmenko – Kopitar – Kempe
Foegele – Danault – Moore
Fiala – Byfield – Laferriere
Jeannot – Helenius – Turcotte
Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Spence
Edmundson – Clarke
Kuemper (starter)
Rittich
Likely scratches: (F) Lewis, Thomas and (D) Burroughs, Moverare
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm Pacific Time and will be televised locally by FanDuel Sports Network. 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 Alex Turcotte 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
New York is coming off a 5-3 victory over Vancouver on Saturday. Here is how they lined up for that contest:
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafrenière
Cuylle – Miller – Zibanejad
Kreider – Carrick – Brodzinski
Othmann – Pärssinen – Rempe
Miller – Borgen
Soucy – Fox
Jones – Schneider
On This Day in Kings History
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