Los Angeles Kings Finish Road Trip Tonight in Dallas
Dec 31, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Dwight King (74) screens Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Kings 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Kings will be in Dallas tonight to finish up a five game road trip against the Stars. Puck drop is set for 5:30 p.m. PST.
The Kings have lost four straight games, including the overtime loss to Philadelphia, coming into Dallas. Making the Kings record on the season 6-4-2.
The Stars have been struggling in the early start of the season as well, going 4-3-4 in their first 11 games. The Stars will be kicking off a three game homestand in Dallas tonight against L.A.
The good news for the Kings is the Stars have struggled at home. In five games at American Airlines Center the Stars have a record of 1-0-4.
That’s slightly better than the Kings road record of 0-3-2. The Kings will be looking to take advantage of the Stars poor performance in front of their home crowd and come away with their first road win of the season.
From L.A. Kings Insider Jon Rosen, here are the lines from the Kings morning skate:
Forwards:
Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Dwight King – Jarret Stoll – Dustin Brown
Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Trevor Lewis
Defensemen:
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Robyn Regehr – Alec Martinez
Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
Expect Jonathan Quick to get the start tonight. Quick is currently third in the NHL with a .939 save percentage. Quick has faced a large quantity of shots in the early season; currently Quick leads the NHL in both shots against and saves with 345 and 324, respectively. The Kings need to do a better job of locking things up defensively and supporting their goaltender.
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For the second straight game Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar are back in the lineup. The first line, with Justin Williams, is completely back together. Look for this line to open up the offense and get some points tonight. Gaborik is more than due.
That 70’s Line will step down to resume their powerhouse second line duties. They will continue to be dangerous and contribute. Look for them to do so tonight.
Jordan Nolan will be out of the lineup, serving his second game of a two game suspension by the NHL Department of Player Safety for boarding Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm.
Stars players to watch out for are the two young guns, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Seguin leads the Stars with 7 goals, and 15 points. Seguin is currently tied for third in the NHL in points. One other player the Kings need to watch out for is second line center Jason Spezza. Spezza’s been playing on the Stars first line power-play and has 10 assists and 12 points in 11 games.
Tyler Toffoli is the top point getter for the Kings, and currently is in a tie for sixth in the NHL. Toffoli has 6 goals and 14 points in 12 games thus far this season.
Kings games have had more scoring, when the Kings do score, this season as opposed to the previous few years. With the way the Dallas team is structured and their high offensive output this looks to be another one.
To estimate the final outcome, with the hopes of a Kings win, tonight’s game could have an expected final of 4-3, Kings.