Los Angeles Kings Take On Winnipeg Jets This Afternoon!
This afternoon the Los Angeles Kings are in Winnipeg to take on the Jets. Puck-drop is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PST at MTS Centre.
The Kings enter their second road game in a row on a two game losing streak. After winning eight games straight the Kings have been held to two goals in their last two games.
L.A. was shutout 1-0 by the Ottawa Senators at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Then the Kings allowed four un-answered goals in a bitter 4-2 defeat in Anaheim against their California rival Ducks.
The Jets are coming off an overtime, 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
The Kings lineup has changed a bit. New acquisition Andrej Sekera jumped into the lineup Friday night against the Ducks. Forwards Trevor Lewis and Dustin Brown have been swapping spots on the first and third lines respectively.
Based on the lineup from the last few games the Kings lineup is projected to be as follows:
Forwards:
Los Angeles Kings
Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Trevor Lewis
Dwight King – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Trevor Lewis – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams
Kyle Clifford – Nick Shore – Jordan Nolan
Defensemen:
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Robyn Regehr – Andrej Sekera
Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
Jonathan Quick and Martin Jones split back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday night, respectively. After having the last game off Quick is expected to make the start for the Kings this afternoon. Quick has a .915 save percentage, and 2.35 goals against average on the season.
Doughty has been special for the Kings as of late, and as usual. Doughty wants to be in the playoffs, and you can see it in the way he skates. Dewy has done his best through the course of games, and especially as time is winding down, to put the team on his back. Trying to carry the flow of play while running around generating scoring chances, Doughty puts in the energy needed to bring the Kings back to life.
It’s going to come down to the wire between Dewy and Nashville Predators defensemen Shea Weber for this year’s Norris Trophy.
Jets players to keep an eye on:
Tyler Myers has rejuvenated his career after being traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the Jets. In 7 games with the team Myers has 1 goal and 4 assists, for 5 points.
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The big, young defensemen can play physically when he needs to. Myers has started to thrive in Winnipeg’s system of jump-up-in-the-play, puck moving defensemen. Keep on eye on Myers to contribute this afternoon, jumping up in the play and skating with the puck.
Mark Scheifele is the Jets second line center behind blossoming star Bryan Little. Scheifele is one of the players the Jets are looking at to lead the team into the future. Scheifele is a prototypical power forward at the center position. He can score, he can hit, and he can make plays by getting the puck to his wingers to score.
In 63 games this season Scheifele has 10 goals, 25 assists, 35 points, a +4 plus/minus rating and 2 power-play goals. Scheifele gives the Jets some depth down the middle, and can pop up to contribute in those rare cases. A good comparison for Scheifele is Dustin Brown playing center.
One other lineup change to note, NHL.com is reporting that Jets forward Blake Wheeler is off of Injured Reserve and will return to the Jets lineup against the afternoon this weekend.
Wheeler is third on the Jets point scoring list. In 61 games this season Wheeler has 16 goals, 28 assists, 44 points, a tie for the team-high +12 rating, and 1 power-play goal.
At the beginning of the season, on October 12th, the Kings defeated the Jets 4-1 at Staples Center. In the Kings last meeting with the Jets, on January 1oth, L.A. was defeated 5-4 in a shootout. This afternoon is the last meeting between the two teams.
As the season winds down every game becomes more and more important. Both of these teams are jockeying into position for the playoffs, hoping for the best possible outcome in a first round that should be tough and tumultuous.
The Kings need this win to stay ahead of the Jets in the potential wild-card standings. L.A. also needs to win this game to get back on track, and back to winning.
It’s one hour to game time, gear up! And as always, Go Kings Go!
Next: Marian Gaborik Still Looks Like A Steal
Jan 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez (27) chase down the puck in the third period of a game at Staples Center. Jets won 5-4 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports