This Afternoon the Los Angeles Kings Visit Air Canada Center to Face Surging Toronto Maple Leafs
Sunday afternoon the Los Angeles Kings will travel to Air Canada Center to face the surging Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck-drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PST (5:00 p.m. EST).
The Kings are coming off a brutal defeat to the Montreal Canadians from Friday night. L.A. got out to a 2-o deficit in the first period. The Kings couldn’t recover, ultimately losing 6-2. Los Angeles put a ton of work in, firing off 91 total shots, though only 46 reached the net. It was a high, for shots on goal in the NHL this season.
L.A.’s recent string of defeats has put them at 15-10-5 with 35 points. The Kings are solidly in 5th place in the tough Pacific Division, and 9th in the Western Conference.
Toronto has had their share of struggles this season. The Maple Leafs, similar to the Kings, have been an up and down, streaky team. Toronto is currently 17-9-3, with 37 points. That puts the Leafs in fourth place Atlantic Division, and sixth in the Eastern Conference.
The Maple Leafs are coming off a big win in less than 24-hours. Toronto routed their Original Six and Atlantic Division foes, the Detroit Red Wings, 4-1 Saturday night. The win added to the Leafs streak: Toronto has now won four straight.
The Kings have struggled against teams in the Eastern Conference this year, no matter what their standing. L.A. has dropped games against the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and Carolina Hurricanes. Just to name a few.
For the Kings that list is too long. There’s no room, or reason to add Toronto to the staggering catalog of losses.
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L.A.’s projected lineup for the afternoon battle against the Maple Leafs is as follows:
Forwards:
Marian Gaborik – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams
Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Dwight King – Anze Kopitar – Dustin Brown
Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Trevor Lewis
Defensemen:
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Alec Martinez – Robyn Regehr
Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
Jonathan Quick will get the start in goal for the Kings this afternoon. Martin Jones got the nod against the Canadiens on Friday, and took a shellacking allowing 6 goals on 20 shots. Quick’s last game was a win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. That star starter is third in the NHL with a save percentage of .931. Quick’s goals against average is 2.13, and he’s continued to show, with a number of huge saves this season, that he is the best in the world.
Anze Kopitar has not performed well as of late. It the last two games head coach Darryl Sutter has chosen to move Kopitar off the first line with Marian Gaborik and Justin Williams. Kopitar will likely start with the first line again. Where he finishes the game is anyone’s guess.
Kopitar needs to find his scoring prowess again, it’s vital to the Kings success.
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Editor In Leaf
Maple Leafs to keep an eye on:
Phil Kessel is the Leafs brightest star and top scorer. Kessel is small, quick, and has great hands. He has the ability to walk around defensemen twice his size. In 29 games this season Kessel has 15 goals, 30 points, and a -1 rating. While he struggles in his own zone, Kessel can be a killer in the offensive zone. #81 will be easy to spot on the ice.
Dion Phaneuf has not turned into the player that many people expected him to be. There seems to be a lingering cloud of doubt around Phaneuf. Still, Phaneuf is dangerous on defense. Phaneuf has a power-house shot from the point, especially when he has time to set up on the power-play. Phaneuf loves to catch players off-balance or with their heads down, laying bone-crushing bodychecks to opponents. Kings players need to be aware when Phaneuf is lurking on the ice.
David Clarkson was a major free-agent acquisition when he came home to Toronto from the New Jersey Devils. Clarkson hasn’t produced points at the level Toronto expects. Clarkson has skated by with 8 goals and 11 points in 29 games this season. Finding other ways to contribute has never been a problem. Clarkson is a heavy hitter, tough in the corners and along the boards, and a physical forechecker. Clarkson will push the tempo on the Kings defensemen, so a quick breakout will be key for the Kings to get past Clarkson and the Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs will most likely start ex-Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier in goal this afternoon. Bernier’s goals against average is 2.55, and a save percentage of .920. Goaltending isn’t the Leafs strong suit, and the Kings know how to beat Bernier. Bernier also knows the Kings shooter’s tendencies, and playing against his former teammates could be the motivation he needs to set up a wall against an offensively struggling Kings team.
It’s an early afternoon matinée, but it should be a good one. The Kings need these two points if they want to even out their record on this five game road trip. L.A. is currently 1-2, today should be that second win, if the Kings can take advantage of a worn down Maple Leaf team.
Go Kings Go!
Mar 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) passes the puck as Toronto Maple Leafs right wing David Clarkson (71) defends during the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports