Amid the usual heat and traffic, there should also be a high wind warning in Downtown Los Angeles today. Expect a pair of significant changes to blow over the Kings lineup in time for puck drop vs. the Carolina Hurricanes later this evening.
Following a disappointing result on Opening Night, the Kings will now look to put it all together and collect their first two points of the campaign against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Unfortunately for LA, they will once again be without forward Viktor Arvidsson — who was placed on LTIR, which rules him out for at least the next nine games. If there is a silver lining to the injury news, it’s that it freed up some cap space for GM Rob Blake and his club. Kings management has been playing nonstop salary cap gymnastics of late, so they gladly used the newly freed-up space to call up several players from AHL Ontario.
Forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan and defenseman Jordan Spence are both expected to draw in and make their season debut on Saturday night.
After seeing action in 46 NHL games last year, Anderson-Dolan is looking to earn the trust of coach Todd McLellan and prove that he belongs in the NHL.
As expected… pic.twitter.com/PElOWhnbE0
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) October 13, 2023
Back on the blueline, Spence returns after being limited to just six games with the big club last year. He’s also aiming to solidify his spot in the lineup by taking over at RD3. The 22-year-old defenseman has made the expected switch to jersey No. 21 — the same number he wore in junior hockey.
Coming off Wednesday night, where the power play went 0-5 and the penalty kill gave one up, special teams will need to be better against the ever-dangerous and fast Hurricanes. Without Arvidsson and Kaliyev, who will serve the final game of his suspension, the mindset is next man up for the Kings power play.
Like any good Hollywood movie, the sequel to Wednesday’s season opener will also feature rookie Alex Laferriere reprising his role on the PL Dubois line after an impressive performance in Game 1.
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Hurricanes
Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe
Fiala – Dubois – Laferriere
Moore – Danault – Grundstrom
JAD – Lizotte – Lewis
Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Roy
Björnfot – Spence
Copley (starter)
Talbot
Likely scratches: Englund, Kaliyev (suspended)
Injured Reserve: Arvidsson (LTIR)
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm PST and will be televised by Bally Sports West.
For those live in attendance, the LA Kings Booster Club will offer their popular ‘Puck for a Buck’ contest — featuring Andreas Englund for this game. Just $1 could win you an autographed puck from an NHL star. Visit their table outside sections 318-319 on the upper concourse for more information.
Across the Ice
Carolina is coming off a 5-3 win over Ottawa on Opening Night, where they outshot their opponent 42-30.
The Hurricanes will likely look similar to this for tonight’s game:
Bunting – Aho – Jarvis
Teravainen – Kotkaniemi – Necas
Martinook – Staal – Fast
Lemieux – Drury – Noesen
Slavin – Burns
Skjei – Pesce
Orlov – DeAngelo
Andersen
Raanta
If it holds up, that means Brenden Lemeieux will be facing the Kings for the first time since they traded him to the Flyers last March.
Although Andersen is Carolina’s projected starter, both goalies have a stellar history against LA.
Andersen holds a career record of 11-1-3 against the Kings, with a 2.20 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Raanta has gone 6-0-1 when playing the Kings. On top of a 1.42 goals-against average and .957 save percentage in those contests, three of those wins were shutouts. That stands as his most shutouts against any NHL opponent.
On This Day in Kings History
Happy birthday to former @LAKings enforcer Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, who was born on October 14, 1949.#LAKings #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/zJeWXTgOlO
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) October 14, 2023
RELATED CONTENT:
McLellan on Arvidsson, Cap Relief Roster, and the Good from Game 1 Film Session
Lineup graphic via ALo Images
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