Los Angeles Kings Host Anaheim Ducks in Freeway Face-Off on Rob Blake’s #4 Retirement Night
Tonight at Staples Center the Los Angeles Kings will host the Anaheim Ducks at 8:00 p.m. PST. It’s the third meeting between the two rival teams; a rivalry known as the ‘freeway face-off’. The game is scheduled for 7:oo p.m. because it’s Rob Blake’s jersey retirement ceremony tonight!
The Kings will have a ceremonial puck drop. Blake will have to opportunity to say a few words, and then his #4 jersey will be raised to the rafters.
It’s L.A.’s sixth game of a seven-game homestand. In the Kings last game at home their net was set on fire by the New Jersey Devils. The Devils got an early lead up 5-1, and never looked back. L.A. recovered some of their pride scoring two goals late in the third period.
Prior to the loss the Kings were able to shutout the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 2-0 victory.
The Kings have slid back into fourth place in the Pacific Division and eighth place in the Western Conference with a 20-14-10 record for 50 points. The Kings have maintained an impressive home record despite the recent 1-2-2 record in the first five games of the homestand. L.A. is 15-6-4 at home this season.
The Ducks on the other hand returned the blowout loss to the Devils. Anaheim beat New Jersey 5-1 in their most recent game on Friday.
Anaheim is sitting atop the Pacific Division, and is tied for first in the Western Conference. The Ducks are 29-10-6 for 64 points; Anaheim is also 12-5-3 on the road.
In the previous two meetings this season, each one of the teams the Kings and Ducks have won one game. Anaheim won in a shootout on November 12th, and the Kings won in overtime at home.
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The Kings lineup is expected to be as follows:
Forwards:
Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Dwight King – Nick Shore – Jeff Carter
Dustin Brown – Jarret Stoll – Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Andy Andreoff – Jordan Nolan
Defensemen:
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Jeff Schultz – Alec Martinez
Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
J.F. Berube
Jonathan Quick will get the start in goal tonight. Quick has not played well as of late. After goaltender Martin Jones allowed 3 goals in the first half of the game, Quick came in as relief. Quick then allowed 2 goals on 7 shots over a span of 10-minutes. At that point head coach Darryl Sutter had Jones start the third period.
Quick has a 2.49 goals against average and a .912 save percentage in 36 appearences this season.
Jean-Francois Berube has been called-up to the Kings from their American Hockey League affiliate the Manchester Monarchs. Martin Jones is out sick and the Kings need a backup goaltender for Quick. In coach Sutter’s words, “Hopefully we only need one [goalie].”
Center, and fellow Monarch call-up Nick Shore will make his NHL debut tonight. L.A. Kings Insider Jon Rosen quoted Shore this afternoon, “I definately think there’s a little bit of nerves going into tonight, it being my first game,” Shore said. “Just try to put that into some positive energy and hopefully get off to a good start.”
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Shore’s parents who recently saw his brother Drew’s debut with the Calgary Flames will be in attendance at Staple Center tonight to see Nick.
Ducks players to keep on eye on:
Ryan Kesler has been a King-killer in a Ducks uniform this season. Kesler has knows the intensity of Pacific Division rivalries, and has fully embraced the Freeway Face-off between the Kings and Ducks. In his first two appearences against L.A. this season Kesler has 3 goals, and 1 assist.
In 45 games this season Kesler has 12 goals, 17 assists, 29 points and -2 plus/minus.
Kesler is a big, strong centermen. He has a great wrist shot and can score from almost anywhere on the ice, but he plays like his favorite part of the game is hitting along the boards and digging in the corners. Kesler is sure to keep on giving the Kings fits. Keep an eye out for him tonight.
Sami Vatanen is in his second full year with the Ducks. The 23-year-old Finnish defensemen is doing ok for himself. He currently leads all Anaheim defensemen in points. In 45 games Vatanen has 9 goals, 19 assists, 28 points and a +1 plus/minus rating. He’s 7 points ahead of the Ducks staple defensemen Cam Fowler.
Vatanen is a quick offensive defensemen. He’s the Ducks version of Slava Voynov, a player the Kings have missed on the blue line this season.
It’s a fun filled, passion-fuled rivalry night. It’s a game you won’t want to miss!
Go Kings Go!
Next: Drew Doughty to Wear 'A' Letter at the All-Star Game
November 15, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) moves the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports