Regardless of the sport, sweeping a team is incredibly difficult to do. Coming off a win in Boston last month, coach Todd McLellan will attempt to rally his guys for a two-game season sweep over the Bruins on Thursday night.
While a large portion of the international hockey audience is focused on today’s World Junior medal games, the NHL continues along with business as usual. Through 41 games played this season, LA has accumulated 50 points. They’re officially at the halfway mark of their 2022-23 campaign too, so that’s a 100-point pace.
McLellan has often pointed to the Kings 6-0 blowout in Buffalo two days before their big win in Boston as being the turning-point in their recent run. Beginning with the aforementioned 3-2 victory over the Bruins on December 15, the Kings are currently on a 7-1-1 roll. A few of those wins have come over league powerhouses too, like the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars.
Goaltender Pheonix Copley is also part of the storyline of late, as he’s posted a 9-1-0 record since being recalled from AHL Ontario. He’s expected to get the start in net tonight against a Bruins team that is 7-0-3 in their last 10 games.
As for the Kings lineup — just like Tuesday — McLellan is likely only facing one decision prior to puck drop. Will he go with Brendan Lemieux or Carl Grundstrom on his fourth line?
On Tuesday, the Kings ran with just six defensemen on the NHL roster. Prior to tonight’s matchup, though, they recalled Jacob Moverare. He’s likely just an extra body and will be a healthy scratch.
LA Kings Projected Lineup vs. Boston Bruins
Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe
Iafallo – Danault – Arvidsson
Fiala – Lizotte – Vilardi
Lemieux – Kupari – JAD
Anderson – Doughty
Durzi – Roy
Edler – Walker
Copley
Quick
Scratches: Grundstrom, Moore (injured, day-to-day), Moverare
Injured Reserve: Kaliyev (retro to Dec. 20, expected out several weeks)
Additional Game Notes
Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm PST and will be televised by Bally Sports.
In Boston’s last game played, they defeated the Penguins 2-1 in the Winter Classic.
Here’s how they lined up earlier today:
#NHLBruins morning rushes:
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Hall – Krejci – Zacha
Foligno – Coyle – Frederic
Greer – Nosek – SmithGrzelcyk – McAvoy
Lindholm – Carlo
Forbort – CliftonUllmark/Swayman pic.twitter.com/mb3lMkWpEw
— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 5, 2023
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Lineup image created by ALo Images
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