Tuesday Night Game Preview: Los Angeles Kings at Nashville Predators

The Los Angeles Kings will be in Nashville Tuesday night to take on the Predators at Bridgestone Arena.  Puck-drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PST.  It will be the first of three meetings between the two teams this season.

It’s the second game of a three-game road trip for Los Angeles.  The Kings lost in Dallas to the Stars, 5-4 on Saturday night.  Los Angeles brings the worst road record in the NHL to town on Tuesday, as the Kings are 1-4-3 when away from Staples Center.

The Predators are entering the second game of a three-game homestand against L.A.  Nashville is on a one game win streak after beating the Florida Panthers 3-2 in a shootout.  The Predators are in a fight for control of the Central Division with the St. Louis Blues.  The Blues are currently in first with 29 points in 21 games; Nashville has 28 points in 20 games.  Nashville has been dominant at home with a 7-1-1 record in the Music City.

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The combination of L.A.’s road woes and Nashville’s home sovereignty give the game an ominous sense of foreboding for Kings fans.

The Kings lineup is projected to be:

Forwards:

Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Trevor Lewis

Dwight King – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli

Justin Williams – Jarret Stoll – Dustin Brown

Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Tanner Pearson

Jordan Nolan – Andy Andreoff

Defensemen:

Robyn Regehr – Drew Doughty

Jake Muzzin – Brayden McNabb

Jamie McBain – Matt Greene

Goaltenders:

Martin Jones

Jonathan Quick

The Kings have been relying on Jonathan Quick often in the first quarter of the season.  Quick is tied for the fifth most games played in the NHL with 18; that’s all while Quick has handled the biggest workload in the NHL with 584 shots against, and 544 saves – also the most in the NHL.

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It might be a good opportunity for the Kings to changes things up as they search out that first road win.  Why not give Quick a rest and start backup Martin Jones.  Jones has played well with a 1.83 goals against average, and a .928 save percentage in four games.  Jones’s struggles are the same as the Kings: he plays well but struggles with his record and can’t seem to get wins, as he is 1-2 in 3 starts.

Dustin Brown and Justin Williams have started to show signs of reemergence in the points category.  Part of their improved performance is the two wingers have been paired together, along with center Jarret Stoll, and have found an instant chemistry.  Brown and Williams are familiar with one another, as both forwards played on the Kings top line with Anze Kopitar last season, until Marian Gaborik joined the team.

Williams is on a four game point streak, including a two goal effort in the 5-4 loss to Dallas.  Williams has 2 goals and 3 assists in his last 4 games, giving him 9 points in 20 games this season.

Dustin Brown has a three game point streak going, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists in his last three games.  The captain now has 3 goals, 2 assists and 5 points in 21 games this season, with his last goal coming against the Florida Panthers in L.A.’s 5-2 victory on November 18th.

Brown and Williams have been better as of late, but they need to improve their play in the Kings defensive zone.  Both players have negative plus/minus ratings, and have struggled against the opposition.  Perhaps if they stay together they can continue to make strides of improvement.

Nashville Predators players the Kings should pay attention to:

The assumption is Pekka Rinne will start in goal for the Preds.  Rinne has a 1.93 goals against average, a .930 save percentage and a 13-3-1-1 record.  The big-bodied goaltender is back with a fury this year.  The Kings must get traffic in front of the net and look for screens, deflections and tips if they want to score.  Rinne will be a formidable challenge for a team, like the Kings this season, that have a habit of taking a lot of shots and scoring few goals.

If you can’t tell by their record the Predators offense is for real this year with rookie sensation Filip Forsberg leading the way.  Forsberg is fast, good with the puck, and has a shot at can beat any goaltender from anywhere on the ice.  Forsberg has 9 goals, 13 assists and 22 points in 20 games this season for the Preds.  Forsberg is dangerous with the puck and has the drive to keep his name in the conversation of Rookie of the Year.

Mike Ribeiro and James Neal are second and third, respectively, on the Predators in points.  Both players were summer time acquisitions, and are in their first year with the team.  Ribeiro has 5 goals and 17 points in 20 games; Neal has 9 goals and 14 points in 20 games.

Nashville’s stern and stubborn defense is led by the rock, Shea Weber.  Weber is one of the best defensemen in hockey year after year.  One of the largest and most physical players in the NHL, Weber will certainly do his best to make sure that L.A.’s offense continues to struggle.  It’s expected that he’s a player to watch out for, so it’s not really a surprise on scouting reports.  But Weber is so talented that the Kings have to keep and eye on and watch out for him when they’re on the ice, or they’re likely to get steam-rolled.

If the Kings want to move up in the standings they are going to have to do it against top Western Conference teams like the Predators.  Tonight’s game will be a good test to see if the Kings can pull out of this losing funk, and kick-start their road game effort.

Oct 17, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher (12) faces off against Los Angeles Kings center Mike Richards (10) during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. The Kings beat the Predators 2-1 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports