Los Angeles Kings at Carolina Hurricanes
October11, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Ron Hainsey (65) knocks the puck away from Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar (11) at PNC Center. The Kings defeated the Hurricanes 2-1 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Kings will be in Carolina to take on the Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Sunday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PST (5:00 p.m. EST).
It’s the fourth game of a five game road trip for the Kings. So far the Kings are 0-2-1 on the trip, and are a winless 0-2-2 on the road in total, losing in overtime to the Arizona Coyotes in their second game of the season.
Forward Jordan Nolan will be out this afternoon, after being suspended two games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for his hit on Red Wing’s forward Darren Helm.
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That means the Kings will be short-handed once again. Unless Anze Kopitar or Marian Gaborik return to the lineup. Gaborik has been listed as day-to-day for the last two weeks. Gaborik went out after the Kings third game against the Winnipeg Jets on October 12th, with an undisclosed upper-body muscle injury. Kopitar left halfway through the Kings game against the Blue Jackets on October 26th, did not return, and has not played since. Kopitar is said to be close to returning.
L.A. Kings Insider Jon Rosen has estimated that Anze Kopitar will return to the lineup this afternoon. Rosen has the Kings projected lineup as follows:
Forwards:
Dustin Brown – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Kyle Clifford – Jarret Stoll – Trevor Lewis
Dwight King – Mike Richards – Andy Andreoff
Defense:
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Robyn Regehr – Alec Martinez
Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene
Goalies:
Martin Jones
Jonathan Quick
Injured Kings forward Trevor Lewis returned in the Kings last game against the Red Wings. This afternoon against the Hurricanes will be Lewis’s third game of the season.
Martin Jones seems likely to start in goal. The Kings have relied heavily on Jonathan Quick in this early season. If they want to keep their main work-horse healthy and rested, a game against a struggling Hurricanes team might be a good opportunity to do so. Jones has played great for the Kings in his three appearances. With the way he’s performed, he looks more like a #1A goaltender rather than a #2, backup.
Jones has a 1.73 goals against average, and a .929 save percentage.
Injured Hurricanes captain Eric Staal returned to the lineup two games ago, playing in his 4th game of the year. Stall has been the face of the franchise since he was drafted 2nd overall in 2003. Staal will certainly bolster the Hurricanes roster, helping to get the team a few more goals and wins.
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The other player the Kings need to watch out for is Jiri Tlusty, who leads the Hurricanes with 6 goals and 8 points in 9 games.
Carolina won their first game of the season yesterday in a shutout effort against the Arizona Coyotes 3-0. The Kings do not want the distinction of being the Hurricanes second win of the season. The Kings are now tie for fourth place in the Pacific Division with the Calgary Flames, at 14 points each. In first are the Anaheim Ducks with 18 points, then the Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks with 16 points each.
Points are too valuable in the ultra-competitive Pacific Division; early games and points that are lost can have a major impact on playoff implications where the difference of 1 or 2 points could mean a spot in the post-season.
The other pre-season Stanley Cup favorite Chicago Blackhawks are also off to a slow start. Currently Chicago sits in fourth place in the Central Division with 13 points and a record of 6-4-1.
The Kings have been late bloomers the last few seasons, getting hot and playing their best hockey from February on. While that’s a good way to ensure an energy boost and a great playoff push, it’s not an excuse to play poorly early in the season. The Kings need to pick up 2 points against struggling teams like the Hurricanes.