Wild Card Implications When the Los Angeles Kings Square Off Against the Minnesota Wild Tonight
Saturday night’s game will have Wild-Card implications when the Los Angeles Kings visit the Minnesota Wild. Puck-drop is at 5:00 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center.
The Kings enter tonight’s game on a three-game winning streak. L.A. is 3-for-3 on their current road trip, beating the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, and New York Islanders in succession.
Minnesota currently sits in the first Wild-Card playoff spot. The Wild currently have 93 points, putting them in 4th place in the Central Division, and 5th in the Western Conference.
The Kings and Wild have met twice this season. L.A. has been victorious in both meetings. On October 19th the Kings won 2-1 at Staples Center. On November 26th L.A. beat the Wild 4-0 in Minnesota.
According to L.A. Kings Insider Jon Rosen L.A.’s lineup is expected to be as follows:
Forwards:
Los Angeles Kings
Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Dwight King – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Dustin Brown – Nick Shore – Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford – Andy Andreoff – Jordan Nolan
Defensemen:
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughy
Robyn Regehr – Andrej Sekera
Alec Martinez – Matt Greene
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
It’s no surprise that Jonathan Quick is expected to start for the Kings. Quick has started the last 12 consecutive games. That seems like a lot but it pales in comparison to the Wild’s goaltender.
If the Wild start their mid-season acquisition Devan Dubnyk tonight, it will be his 34th straight game.
Quick has been a rock for the Kings on this road trip and in their recent push to the playoffs.
In 64 starts Quick is 33-19-12 with 6 shutouts a 2.26 goals against average, and a .917 save percentage.
Kings All-Star center Anze Kopitar has been on a tear.
Kopitar is currently on a five-game point streak, scoring 2 goals and 8 points over the stretch.
Kopitar has surpassed teammate Jeff Carter for the team lead in points. In 71 games Kopitar has 16 goals, 60 points, a -2 plus/minus, 6 power-play goals and 4 game-winning goals.
Kopitar’s 44 assists are the most on the Kings and ranks him 11th overall in the NHL.
Carter hasn’t been doing too shabby himself.
In his last 10 games Carter has 5 goals, and 6 points. Carter currently leads the Kings in goals with 26.
In 74 games this season Carter has 26 goals, 29 assists, 55 points, a +5 rating, 9 power-play goals, and 5 game-winning goals.
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Wild players to keep an eye on:
Thomas Vanek is nearing the end of his first season with the Wild. In 74 games Vanek has 20 goals, 50 points, a -4 rating, 5 power-play goals, and 2 game-winners.
Vanek is currently second on the Wild in points. He’s one of the Wild’s three 20-goal scorers.
Vanek is one tough customer in front of the net. He’s big, has great hands, and great hand-eye coordination. Vanek makes it difficult for goaltenders to see, and he can deflect pucks like few others in the NHL. Watch out for him when the Kings are on the penalty-kill.’
Jason Zucker has been on a role lately. Known for his physical play as one of the Wild’s heavier hitters, Zucker has also managed to collect 18 goals for the team.
In 48 games Zucker has 18 goals, 5 assists, and 23 points. Zucker is a -8 with 2 game-winning goals.
Zucker’s not one of the Wild’s top offensive talents, but clearly he can find the back of the net. That’s what makes him a threat. The Kings need to keep an eye on Zucker and limit his opportunities around the net.
Devan Dubnyk was a backup goaltender in Arizona earlier this year. Now he’s a rising star that has helped turn Minnesota’s season around.
There’s a reason why Dubnyk has played 33 games in a row: he’s winning. Dubnyk hasn’t been taken out of the net since he arrived in town.
In 33 games with the Wild this season Dubnyk has a record of 25-6-1 with 5 shutouts. Dubnyk also sports a 1.72 goals against average, and a .938 save percentage. Numbers that rival the NHL’s best.
If the Kings want to come away with two-points tonight they are going to have to beat Dubnyk.
One important note to consider: the Vancouver Canucks are hosting the Dallas Stars tonight at 10:00 p.m. PST.
Root for the Dallas Stars tonight because a Dallas win and a Kings win puts L.A. tie with Vancouver in the standings.
Tonight is a big game, let’s make it four wins in a row!
Go Kings Go!