Los Angeles Kings Face Struggling Boston Bruins at Staples Center on Tuesday
On Tuesday night the Los Angeles Kings will host the Boston Bruins at Staples Center. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PST.
Los Angeles enters Tuesday night’s game after a tough 4-1 loss at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago got out to an early lead, then tightened up defensively, and the Kings were never able to recover.
L.A. has been uncharacteristically inconsistent this season. Part of that is because of the fluctuations in personnel on defense. The Kings cornerstone of reliable, tough defense isn’t there anymore. They’re flying without a safety net. It’s hurt the Kings on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ice.
The Kings are steadily holding on to fourth place in the Pacific Division, and seventh in the Western Conference with 29 points and a record of 12-7-5. It’s not crunch time yet, but the Kings need to start putting more W’s in the win column. The West is not a conference that tolerates mediocrity.
Jan 20, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) screens goalie Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) during the second period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The Bruins are going through a similar situation. Boston hasn’t played like themselves this year, and that’s because they’re not themselves. Franchise faces like Johnny Boychuk and Zdeno Chara aren’t on the blue line. Boychuk was at Boston’s camp, but was traded to the New York Islanders right before the Bruins first game. Chara has been injured with a partial knee tear for the last few weeks and is out on Injured Reserve indefinitely.
Boston is coming off a 3-2 loss against the Anaheim Ducks.
Boston’s now fourth in the Atlantic Division with 29 points. The Bruins record of 14-10-1 has them sitting in sixth place in Eastern Conference. Over the last four years the Bruins have been either first or second, so this is something new to a quickly aging team.
Two teams that have ruled the top of the NHL in recent years are strangely average. It’s a compliment to how important defensemen are in the game of hockey, even though the offensive scorers and forward stars garner all the praise.
L.A. will have a few changes to their line-up. Marian Gaborik was a last-minute scratch before the Chicago game, due to an upper-body injury. Gaborik’s absence created an opening that Jordan Nolan happily filled.
Barring any major changes the Kings lines should be as follows:
Forwards:
Tyler Toffoli – Anze Kopitar – Trevor Lewis
Dwight King – Jeff Carter – Tanner Pearson
Justin Williams – Jarret Stoll – Dustin Brown
Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Jordan Nolan
Defensemen:
Brayden McNabb – Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin – Matt Greene
Jamie McBain – Robyn Regehr
“Two teams that have ruled the top of the NHL in recent years are strangely average. It’s a compliment to how important defensemen are in the game of hockey…”
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
Quick will get the start tonight against the Bruins. Quick didn’t have a good week last week, allowing 8 goals in two games, along with a .829 save percentage in the two performances. Quick and the Kings will look to put last week’s woes behind them and start December off right tonight.
The line of Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll, and Dustin Brown have been effective since head coach Darryl Sutter put them together. Williams had a six-game point streak that was snapped against Chicago. Don’t be surprised if he gets back on track against Boston. It looks like Mr. Game 7 will be hunting bears tonight, and his aim is deadly.
Marian Gaborik is expected to be a scratch. Gaborik missed 8 games earlier in the season with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Gaborik is extremely talented, but has had injury problems throughout his career. Based on his history, he’s expected to miss tonight’s game.
Ever since the hot streak ran cold, That 70’s Line of Toffoli – Carter – Pearson has been broken up. Only Darryl Sutter knows when they will be put back together again, but this could be a good opportunity. The line’s balance of physicality and talent could beat the Bruins at their own game.
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Boston’s dangerous players to keep an eye out for:
Milan Lucic was once feared but now people have turned on the Bruins chief bully. After a one-punch knock down Lucic isn’t the intimidator he once was. That doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous. Especially now. Lucic will be facing a team, from a conference, that’s notoriously physical. And he needs a way to get his name in the papers, bolstering his reputation and perpetuating a return to the limelight. Lucic can score too. He’s part of a five-way tie for the Bruins second in goals, with 5. Lucic has 12 points in 25 games.
Brad Marchand is another prototypical Boston forward that opposing fans love to hate. Marchand is a fiesty rink-rat that loves to get under opponents skin. Marchand, though small in stature, is built like a rock, and has a power-house wrist shot. That shot’s helped Marchand to lead the Bruins in goals with 6, and he has 12 points in 22 appearances this season.
Dougie Hamilton is a 21-year-old defensemen that has quickly become a staple on the blue line for Boston. Hamilton has played in the NHL since he was 19-years-old, and under the mentorship of Zdeno Chara has become one of the dominant young defensemen in the game. Hamilton is first for defensemen, and third for all Bruin players in points this year. Hamilton has 5 goals and 15 points over 25 games this season.
Tuukka Rask is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Rask will start in net for Boston, dueling for the win against Jonathan Quick. With a record of 11-7-1, a .918 save percentage, and a 2.35 goals against average, Rask will look to mirror Quick in the matchup.
The Bruins strength is their team effort. Every line can score, and every line can hit and dig in the corners. Sound familiar? Boston is built the same way the Kings are.
It will be an exciting game between to former, for now, super-powers from the East and West. Surely, it’s a game you won’t want to miss.
Go Kings Go!
Jan 20, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) battle for the puck during the second period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports