After taking Sunday off, the Kings returned to the ice for a pre-game skate on Monday. In advance of beginning a two-game set in Anaheim vs. the Ducks, there were a pair of noticeable changes at TSPC – Jonathan Quick was absent and Jaret Anderson-Dolan participated in a red no-contact jersey.
JAD has returned to LA Kings practice today. He's in a red no-contact jersey, so still not ready to return, but a big first step.
We had originally heard 2-4 weeks and his last game was Feb 18, so he's on track.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) March 8, 2021
The recall yesterday was rather curious. And now Jonathan Quick is absent from Kings morning skate. Coincidental? https://t.co/L3GUmOhT4m
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) March 8, 2021
In the case of Quick, while some veteran players often choose to sit out an optional morning skate, that doesn’t appear to be the case. The issue could potentially be related to a late-game collision Quick had with Gabe Vilardi in overtime on Saturday.
UPDATE:
LA Kings update:
Jonathan Quick has an upper body injury. Hearing it's day to day.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) March 8, 2021
This appears to be where Quick was injured (unconfirmed) on Saturday – right before Vilardi/Kempe motored down ice to score the GWG in OT… pic.twitter.com/cOoaHN19XP
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) March 8, 2021
As for the lineup, we noted the other day a likelihood of Kurtis MacDermid playing soon and a game vs. a division rival would certainly seem to fit that bill. We’ll see if that develops tonight or on Wednesday.
LA Kings projected lineup for Game 24 vs. Anaheim Ducks
Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown
Athanasiou – Vilardi – Carter
Moore – Kupari – Kempe
Grundstrom – Lizotte – Luff
Anderson – Doughty
Bjornfot – Roy
Maatta – Walker
Petersen (starter)
Grosenick
Other players available:
Kurtis MacDermid
Austin Wager
Michael Amadio
Not available:
Martin Frk (IR)
Jaret Anderson-Dolan (IR)
Current taxi squad listed as – Tobias Bjornfot, Rasmus Kupari, Daniel Brickley, Matt Villalta .. add Akil Thomas and Sammy Fagemo
NOTE: This article will be updated with Todd McLellan quotes following his media scrum
McLellan on if he’ll reference the game vs. Anaheim from last month or stick to more recent footage of the Kings when preparing to face the Ducks this time
It’s a combination of both. They played a really good, strong game in our building and we didn’t play very well, so there’s only so much we can take out of it. But you always reference your past games. It’ll give you an idea of maybe some tendencies that your opposition is throwing at you, plus you can also review where your team was at that point. We weren’t very good that night.
On if he can still feel the intensity of this being a rivalry game, even without fans in the building
There are some games around the league — my time in Edmonton, Edmonton-Calgary; it went up a notch for Edmonton-Vancouver; when we play against Vegas; when we play against San Jose; when we play against Anaheim. Those games, those in-state games, seem to take on just a little more hype, a little more intensity, and that’s why they’re called rival games. So this series of games won’t be any different than it has been in the past. The only thing is the fans are at home cheering loud. They aren’t heard, but we know they’re there. I’m sure the Ducks are saying the same thing about their group. The 40 players who will play tonight are gonna play hard and it’s gonna be a good game.
On the absence of Jonathan Quick at morning skate, after playing on Saturday
Day-to-day. He was banged up a little bit late in the game.
On what he didn’t like about the Kings performance in their last game vs. Anaheim
It wasn’t good from the beginning to the end. I could probably take the rest of this 10 minutes that we have and just start rattling off a lot of areas – starting in the dot all the way to free ice play along the boards, in front of the net, breakouts, forechecks, we just weren’t very good. You know what, sometimes you have to tip your hat to the other team, they played a really strong game that night.
On if the changes Anaheim has made to their roster will make them quicker than that Ducks team the Kings faced in February
I think that’s fair to say. There’s a lot of skill in their lineup right now and they’re scoring a little bit more. In the pre-scouts, they look dangerous. A lot of the kids that are going into the lineup — obviously, Zegras and those type of players; they know their own players better, but from the outside they’re tremendously talented, young players. A lot of teams have those in the league and when they go in they have so much courage to play and try things. I watched Zegras try the lacrosse move the other night. The game is so fast and so skilled, those guys fit in right now. It’ll be a handful for us to handle that young skill and that speed.
On if he has any thoughts on how Turcotte and the Reign are doing
I’m probably not the the best one to talk to about that. I’ve seen them play a little bit, but we’re so engaged in our group right now that it wouldn’t be fair for me to evaluate the kids there. The record is, obviously, not where they want it to be, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t growth occurring. So for me to break down individuals would be really unfair for them, for you, and for myself.
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