The Royal Week Ahead: Kings weekly schedule preview
By Matt Pelkey
In the week of November 8-15, the Los Angeles Kings will play three games – all at home. Two games come against Western Conference teams while the other contest features a team who hails from the East. Here is a look at the weekly schedule preview for Los Angeles:
Tuesday, November 10 vs. Arizona Coyotes – 7:30 p.m. (PT)/10:30 p.m. (ET)
The Kings and Coyotes will square off for the second time this season on Tuesday. Arizona has already beat Los Angeles at Staples Center this season, winning 4-1 back on October 9. In that game, Coyotes rookie Max Domi tallied a goal and an assist while goaltender Mike Smith stopped 40 of 41 shots as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead before L.A.’s Tyler Toffoli netted a shorthanded goal late in the second period.
Oct 9, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Coyotes center Max Comi (16) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) and defenseman Alex Martinez (27) battle for the puck at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Last year the Kings were 3-0-1 against the Coyotes, surrendering just 5 goals in the four games. But this year, the Phoenix-based team boasts an exciting new roster highlighted by youngsters that has surprised many people early in the season. Rookies Anthony Duclair and Domi are fifth and first in team scoring respectively, while big center Martin Hanzal shares the scoring lead with Domi with 13 points, all assists.
For the Kings, it’s been the Toffoli-Jeff Carter-Milan Lucic line that has continued to power the offense through the first 14 games. Scoring 19 of Los Angeles’ 35 goals so far, the trio continue to produce as players like Anze Kopitar, Tanner Pearson, and Dustin Brown begin to heat up. Marian Gaborik is still looking to improve on his disappointing start, scoring just one goal and one assist in 14 games.
Thursday, November 12 vs. New York Islanders – 7:30 p.m. (PT)/10:30 p.m. (ET)
The Islanders visit Staples Center in the middle of a three-game California road trip. If recent history means anything, the Kings should be looking forward to Thursday’s contest. Los Angeles is 3-0-2 in its previous five games against New York and 7-1-2 in its last 10.
Mar 26, 2015; Uniondale, NY, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) scores a goal past New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) during the third period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Kings won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Led offensively by forwards Kyle Okposo and John Tavares, defenseman Johnny Boychuk continues to be an offensive threat on the blue line, collecting seven points through 15 games. The Islanders feature two players who are former property of the Kings in defenseman Thomas Hickey and goaltender J.F. Berube. Both players played multiple seasons in Los Angeles’ farm system with the former AHL’s Manchester Monarchs (now Ontario Reign) before finding new homes in New York. Hickey, a forth-overall pick of the Kings in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, was claimed off waivers by the Islanders in January 2013. Berube, also claimed off waivers from Los Angeles, became New York property just last month.
Entering the week, the Islanders have scored just five goals in four games since November 1. A team many expect to earn a playoff seed in the Eastern Conference this season, Thursday’s matchup against the Kings, who are tied with the Montreal Canadiens for third-fewest goals allowed with 29, won’t help their recent scoring woes.
Saturday, November 14 vs. Edmonton – 7:00 p.m. (PT)/10:00 p.m. (ET)
Playing their third and final game of the week, the Kings face-off with the Oilers for the second time this year on Saturday. Los Angeles came away with the two points in the first meeting on October 25 in Edmonton after Jonathan Quick made a highlight-reel save on rookie sensation Connor McDavid in the dying seconds of the game.
Although McDavid will not dress as he recovers from a broken collarbone suffered last week, the Oilers are still loaded with a number of offensive weapons and former first overall picks. Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov are all previous first overall selections of Edmonton and have combined for 39 points through 15 contests while forward Jordan Eberle is back for the blue and orange. Eberle, who was sidelined for the first 14 games because of a shoulder injury, returns after making his 2015-16 debut Sunday in Chicago and will be a major boost to a young Oilers squad. An assistant captain, Eberle led the team with 63 points last season.
How the Los Angeles Kings have performed against each conference entering this week:
vs Western Conference
Record: 7-4
Goals for: 26
Goals against: 25
Power play: 6-for-38
vs Eastern Conference
Record: 2-1
Goals for: 9
Goals against: 4
Power play: 3-for-7