Los Angeles Kings Five-Game Road Trip Ends in Columbus Tonight
The Los Angeles Kings will play the last game of a five-game road trip tonight in Columbus. Puck-drop between the Kings and the Blue Jackets is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. PST (7:00 p.m. ESI) at Nationwide Arena.
The ice of Nationwide Arena will be familiar to two Kings. Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty were here no more than three weeks ago to participate in the NHL’s All-Star game.
It hasn’t happened very often, but the Kings enter tonight’s game after picking up a win on the road! The Kings shocked the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tonight will be the second and final regular season game between the Kings and Blue Jackets this season.
The first meeting took place on October, 26th 2014, at Staples Center. In that game the Kings won 5-2.
Based on the Kings line rushes from this morning skate, courtesy of L.A. Kings Insider Jon Rosen, the Kings lineup is expected to be as follows:
Forwards:
Los Angeles Kings
Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Dustin Brown
Dwight King – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Kyle Clifford – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams
Trevor Lewis – Nick Shore – Jordan Nolan
Defensemen:
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene
Jamie McBain – Robyn Regehr
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
Alec Martinez is expected to miss tonight’s game. Martinez took a hard hit in Saturday night’s game against the Tamply Bay Lightning. The Kings were not very specific on Martinez’s situation, other than to say he is suffering from concussion-like symptoms. Head coach Darryl Sutter said simply, “He is -day-to day”
Martinez left the team and the road trip early, returning to his home in Los Angeles.
Expect Jonathan Quick to be in the net for the Kings. It’s getting toward the end of the year and the Kings have been slummin, so Martin Jones won’t get as many opportunities.
Quick on the other hand will have numerous opportunities to make stops. With the way his team has been giving up shots lately, Quick will have his hands full.
Nick Shore will suit up for the Kings, skating on the fourth line between Trevor Lewis and Jordan Nolan.
The Kings first line of Marian Gaborik, Anze Kopitar, and Dustin Brown will have their hands full at both ends of the ice tonight. It seems logical to assume that coach Sutter will match Kopitar has his linemates against the Blue Jackets young superstar scorerer Ryan Johansen and his linemate and Jackets captain Nick Foligno.
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Blue Jackets to keep your eye on:
Acutally it’s more like who not to keep an eye on. The Blue Jackets injury woes are getting close to NHL records. The Jackets have already lost a total of 324 man-games this season; the most in the league by far, even though the entire Pittsburgh Penguins team caught the case of the mumps.
Despite the battered roster the Jackets are still buzzing on the ice. Columbus is coming off a back-to-back 7-1, and 4-1 victories over the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on Friday and Saturday night, respectively.
Columbus All-Star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is out with a groin injury for the next 4-5 weeks. In his place backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney has played well. In 16 starts McElhinney is 7-8-1 with a 2.77 goals against average, and a .915 save percentage.
Ryan Johansen is off to an incredible start. He’s showing he’s worth the money. Johansen is tied for 1st in points on the team, is first in assists and second in goals, only to his linemate Nick Foligno. In 51 games Jonahsen has 20 goals, 29 assists, and 49 points. Included in that Johansen has 7 power-play goals.
Tonight will be Blue Jackets forward Scott Hartnell’s 1,000st career game.
Hartnell played his first six NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators. After that he was moved to Philadelphia where Hartnell had success on the ice and with the crowds, becoming a fan favorite. After last season in what was a bit of a shock the Flyers traded Hartnell to Columbus.
Hartnell is now third on the Blue Jackets. In 46 games this season Hartnell has amassed 12 goals, 21 assists, 31 points, including 4 power-play goals, and a -7 plus/minus rating.
On more game until the Kings come back home to Staples Center. It would be a nice, early, vVlentine’s day present from the Kings team to their beloved fans, if they came home on a two game win-streak.
Go Kings Go!
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Feb 6, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) and Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky (17) collide in the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports