Following a thrilling overtime victory on Thursday night, the Kings are set to take on the surging Dallas Stars at Crypto.com Arena. It marks the fourth contest of LA’s five-game homestand, where they have put up a 2-0-1 record thus far. Dallas, much like tonight’s home team, are fighting to improve their playoff position; with both clubs hoping to go on a deep playoff run in a few months.
Friday afternoon marked the league’s annual Trade Deadline, where the Kings were just one of two NHL clubs who elected not to make a single move. Despite various rumors online, the Kings plans were essentially laid out here over a week ago:
There are several reasons why GM Rob Blake didn’t make any moves, with the main one being there was no scenario where the team could improve drastically while staying cap-compliant once injured Kings players return. Even if LA had used a third team in a deal to help with salary relief, they still didn’t have an open roster spot to add that new player in.
Rather than send out players that have helped get them to this point, LA opted to stand pat and not trade any assets away. Instead, they will rely on the team they built last summer to prove themselves come game 83. If this team is truly capable of winning a round in the postseason, that’s how they will ultimately be judged — on whatever happens in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
All of this, of course, brings attention to the injured players referred to above. Reinforcements are coming soon, and they will be welcomed with open arms by the rest of the organization. Adrian Kempe and Mikey Anderson have been practicing with the group recently, and while they can potentially return tonight, look for them to get back to action within the next week. Viktor Arvidsson is not very far behind. He is still on LTIR, which keeps him out at least until March 16th. Finally, Carl Grundstrom looks to be on track to return in late March to early April.
Just from that group, the Kings will be getting two top-scoring wingers, a top-pair defenseman, and a bottom-six physical presence back in the lineup. That’s a lot of manpower that management believes will boost the Kings heading into the playoffs. Will that be enough? Game 83 and beyond will be the judge of that.
As for tonight’s lineup, it’s worth noting that Brandt Clarke has not yet been recalled. He was one of four players sent to AHL Ontario before yesterday’s noon deadline. Given that without him, the Kings would only have 17 healthy skaters, there is most likely one other roster change coming — either (a) Kempe is playing tonight or (b) there will be a recall of Clarke or Sammy Fagemo.
If it’s a recall, it will probably be done on an emergency basis — which then wouldn’t count as one of LA’s four allowable recalls. With Jacob Moverare and Alex Turcotte already recalled, the Kings are already down to their final two. For those unfamiliar with NHL rules surrounding the four recalls, we covered this aspect of things here.
No Mikey Anderson, probable Adrian Kempe for Kings tonight v Stars per HC Jim Hiller.
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) March 9, 2024
Update, 5pm Pacific – We have confirmed, Kempe will play tonight.
Statistically Speaking
— Anze Kopitar sits one point shy (59) of becoming the second active skater to record 60 points against the Stars, trailing only Detroit’s Patrick Kane (76).
— On Thursday, Blake Lizotte skated in his 300th career NHL game to become the 15th undrafted player to skate in at least 300 games with the Kings and the first since Steven Duchesne (442 GP).
— Kevin Fiala enters tonight with nine points (4G, 5A) over his last five games. This is also Fiala’s fifth consecutive 20-goal campaign and sixth of his career, the second-most among any Swiss-born skater in league history.
— Defenseman Jacob Moverare notched his first career NHL goal on Thursday against the Senators at Crypto.com Arena, becoming the fifth Kings skater to record their first career NHL goal this season, joining Alex Laferriere (Oct. 21, 2023, vs. BOS) and Andreas Englund (Oct. 31, 2023, at TOR), Alex Turcotte (Jan. 31, 2023 at NSH) and Brandt Clarke (Feb. 17, 2024 at BOS).
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Stars
Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe *
Moore – Danault – Fiala
Laferriere – Dubois – Turcotte
Lizotte – Lewis – Kaliyev
* Not confirmed at morning skate. Notes on Kempe/Clarke above.
Moverare – Doughty
Gavrikov – Roy
Englund – Spence
Talbot (starter)
Rittich
Likely healthy scratches: (none)
Injured: Anderson, Kempe
LTIR: Arvidsson, Copley, Grundstrom
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm Pacific Time and will be televised by KCAL 9.
For those live in attendance, the LA Kings Booster Club will offer their popular ‘Puck for a Buck’ contest — featuring Vlad Gavrikov for this game. Just $1 could win you an autographed puck from an NHL star. Visit their table outside sections 317-318 on the upper concourse for more information.
LA Royal Army, another fan support group, has a booth outside section 303. They do watch parties and other fun activities. Stop by and check them out.
Across the Ice
Dallas is coming off a 6-2 victory in Anaheim on Friday.
Here’s how they lined up for that one:
Robertson – Pavelski – Hintz
Benn – Stankoven – Johnston
Marchment – Duchene – Dellandrea
Faksa – Smith – Steel
Heiskanen – Harley
Tanev – Lindell
Hakanpaa – Suter
Oettinger
In their last 10 games, the Stars are 5-3-2. As the away team, they’re 20-9-5 this season.
On This Day in Kings History
On March 9, 2009, @LAKings defenseman Matt Greene blocked a shot with his face in the dying moments of a home victory versus the Vancouver Canucks. Jarret Stoll scored two power play goals, and Teddy Purcell recorded two assists in a 3-2 win for the #LAKings.#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/ffriXC8N2M
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) March 9, 2024
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Game day graphic created by ALoImages
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