The Kings will be in Nashville today to face the Predators at 5 p.m. They are coming off a tough shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, who scored with 30 seconds left to tie the game.
Are these the rebounding Kings? After losing to San Jose, Los Angeles bounced back by beating the Vegas Golden Knights 6-3 in one of their best performances of the year. Can they do it again this time?
The Predators’ season got off to a bad start, going 0-5. Since then, they have improved to 4-1-1 in their last six games, with their most recent victory coming against the Colorado Avalanche 5-2.
Nashville won last year’s season series 2-1-0, beating the Kings 8-6. The Kings will look to turn things around in their favor this season. While the Kings underwent an offseason makeover, the Predators also had quite the offseason.
The Predators dominated their reorganization with former Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos and shifty scorer Jonathan Marchesseault of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Stamkos has excelled against the Kings during his career, posting 10g, 14a and a +10 in 21 games. He’s been lethal on the power play during his career, but of his ten goals scored against the Kings, only two have been on the power play.
Marchessault knows the Kings very well due to his years playing in Vegas. In 34 games against LA, he has 9g, 17a, 26 points and a +6. The forward has yet to score a power play goal against the Kings in his career.
Captain Anze Kopitar leads the Kings career against the Predators, with 12g 30a for 42 points in 54 appearances. However, Kopitar is a dismal -14 against the Predators, a stat he has generally been on the wrong side of against most opponents in his career.
The Kings are knocking on the door with their excellent even-strength play. They are the 11th best team at even strength, scoring 31 goals in that department. Their power play is about average in the league, 16th overall (16.7%), and their penalty kill is also average, 15th overall (77.1%).
Another game, another similar game plan. The Kings will take their fair share of penalties; it’s just part of being the second-most penalized team in the league (127 PIMS). If they stay relatively penalty-free and their power play can score a goal, they will be in good shape most nights to win close games.
Please note:
(By LA Kings PR)
Defenseman Brandt Clarke leads the team in assists with ten and is second in points with 11 (1-10=11), behind only Anze Kopitar (4-9=13). Clarke enters Bridgestone Arena with seven points (1-6 = 7) in his last five games, including his second game of more than three points of the season – and his career – last Wednesday night against the Golden Knights. Clarke is one of five defensemen in team history to record multiple games of more than three points before turning 22.
Can Clarke continue his excellent play, or is it something that is watered down to the status quo?
The first half of a difficult series is fast approaching.
