As the Kings return home to Staples Center — for one of the final few games before the official name change in a few weeks — coach Todd McLellan appears set to make two changes at forward.
Anderson-Dolan has been recalled and is practicing with the Kings today.
📸 @aloimages pic.twitter.com/EvJVTPUWXG
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) December 8, 2021
Confirmed https://t.co/P5qK5j5hLJ pic.twitter.com/E9IVVTAfOH
— The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 8, 2021
2/2
— Look for a transaction to occur (i.e. player sent to AHL Ontario) prior to Saturday, in advance of Lemieux's return from suspension
(end of notes)
— The Mayor (@mayorNHL) December 9, 2021
Andreas Athanasiou has been officially activated from protocol. He returned to practice late last week. Yet, following the general practice for players exiting protocol, LA management allowed him a few extra days to wrap up his conditioning before adding him back to the lineup. In eight games played earlier this season, Athanasiou recorded five points (2G, 3A).
Kings prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan is also expected to suit up for tonight’s game. After splitting time between the Reign and Kings last season, JAD has been nearly a point-per-game player for AHL Ontario this season, putting up 13 points (5G, 8A) in 15 games.
The real lineup fun will begin on Saturday, when Brendan Lemieux is expected to return from suspension. At that point, the Kings will need to put somebody on waivers or send a waiver exempt player back to the AHL.
As for tonight, McLellan and the Kings will be facing a Stars team they just haven’t seen much over the past two years. Due to the reconfigured divisions last season, they didn’t play each other at all. And in the 2019-20 season, Dallas and LA only played once before the league-wide shutdown. That game was a 2-1 Stars win at Staples Center on January 8, 2020 (their last visit to LA). Who scored for the Kings that night? Anze Kopitar, of course.
LA KINGS PROJECTED LINEUP vs. DALLAS STARS on 12/9
Kempe – Kopitar – Brown
Iafallo – Danault – Arvidsson
Athanasiou – Kupari – Kaliyev
Grundstrom – JAD – Moore
Other options: Andersson
Protocol: Lizotte
Serving a 5-Game Suspension: Lemieux
Anderson – Doughty
Edler – Roy
Bj̦rnfot РDurzi
Other options: Maatta
Quick (starter)
Petersen
On the Stars side of things:
Preview: Stars have opportunity for redemption Thursday in LA https://t.co/0lr7ZqJCSf via @NHLdotcom
— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) December 9, 2021
KINGS MILESTONES WITHIN REACH
Anze Kopitar – needs 46 points to pass Dave Taylor for third on the Kings all-time scoring list
Dustin Brown — 9 goals away from passing Bernie Nicholls for fifth place in Kings franchise history
Drew Doughty — 17 games away from playing in his 1,000th NHL regular season game
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 pm PST tonight and the game will be on Bally Sports Network.
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Lead photo via ALo Images
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