Coming off a solid win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night at home, coach Todd McLellan and his LA Kings are now in Colorado for a quick one-game road trip. We’re not expecting any lineup changes for the team’s first matchup with the Avalanche this season.
Here’s what McLellan had to say when asked if this was a measuring stick game tonight:
“The season is so long. We’re not even halfway there yet. They’re important games; they’re tough games. I can’t remember the last time we’ve won in Colorado. We’ll mention that to the group. We’ll see if we’ve closed the gap. The gap [between us and the Avs] has tended to be pretty wide. But, we’ll see if we’ve closed the gap a little bit and we’ll come back on Friday and practice, then get ready to do it all over again. I think it’s a little bit early, at least in my opinion, for that type of address to the team.”
LA Kings Projected Lineup vs. Colorado Avalanche
Fiala – Kopitar – Kempe
Iafallo – Danault – Arvidsson
JAD – Lizotte – Vilardi
Lemieux – Byfield – Kupari
Anderson – Doughty
Durzi – Roy
Edler – Walker
Copley
Quick
Scratches: Grundstrom, Moore, Spence
Injured Reserve: Kaliyev (retro to Dec. 20, expected out several weeks)
Additional Game Notes
Puck drop is set for 6:00pm PST and will be televised by Bally Sports West.
In Colorado’s last game played, they were downed by the Coyotes 6-3 in Arizona on Tuesday.
Here’s how the Avalanche lined up for that one:
Game #️⃣3️⃣3️⃣#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/PzGZKsP8rY
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 28, 2022
LA will be wearing their black jerseys, as Colorado is going with their Reverse Retro kit tonight:
Feels good to be home.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/wYW7pVSfjx
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 29, 2022
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VIDEO: Hoven on Kings Intermission Report via Bally Sports West
Lineup image created by ALo Images
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Bringing QB up to then just give him 5-8 min of ice time seems so antithetical to the development philosophy (and logic). I get it, Moore is out but they should keep the big fella in ONT developing instead of the 4th line (and nobody but 46 produces with Lemmy on a line).
I just don’t get the approach. Todd clearly has a favorite in Lizotte and has elevated him to 3C so you stick your leading goal scorer (GV) and top blue chip (QB) at the bottom with minimal TOI (except Lardo on the PP).
I miss Tonka in the lineup.