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Battle of Champions – Los Angeles Kings Host Chicago Blackhawks for Second Game on NBC’s Rivalry Night

By Eric Fleischmann |

The Los Angeles Kings will host the Chicago Blackhawks tonight for the second time this season.  Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PST at Staples Center.

After tonight the King will embark on a five game road trip.

Tonight is the first game in a week, coming out of the All-Star break, for both the Kings and the Hawks.

L.A’s last game was a 4-2 loss to Pacific Division rival the San Jose Sharks.  Chicago last game was a 3-2 shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Kings are currently 4th in the Pacific Division and 9th in the Western Conference with a record of 20-15-12 for 52 points.  The Hawks are 30-15-2 for 62 points putting them 3rd in the Central Division, and 4th in the Western Conference.

This is the second time this season the Kings and Hawks are meeting.  There is one more regular season between the two that will be played on March 30th, at the “Madhouse on Madison” the United Center in Chicago.

The first meeting between the two teams this season took place on November 29th, when the Hawks beat the Kings 4-1 at Staples Center.

L.A. Kings Insider Jon Rosen tweeted out the Kings line-rushes from today’s morning skate:

Based on that here is the expected lineup for the Kings:

Forwards:

Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Dustin Brown

Dwight King – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli

Kyle Clifford – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams

Trevor Lewis – Nick Shore – Jordan Nolan

Defensemen:

Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty

Robyn Regehr – Alec Martinez

Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene

Goaltenders:

Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings /

Los Angeles Kings

Jonathan Quick

Martin Jones

Nick Shore will be in the lineup for his fourth NHL game.  In his three previous outings Shore has 1 assist, a -1 plus/minus and 2 penalty minutes.

Shore was one of the top scorers in the AHL before being called up two weeks ago.  Shore is a new rookie, but the Kings aren’t new to having rookie call-ups make a big impact.  Dwight King and Jordan Nolan were rookie call-ups that made a difference in the playoffs en route to the 2012 Stanley Cup.  Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli were rookies in the playoffs last season, and both are still considered rookies this year, despite the fact that they wear Stanley Cup rings and have become household names.

Shore can score, and the Kings need that now more than ever.

Speaking of Tyler Toffoli, he’s set to return to the lineup tonight.  Toffoli was diagnosed with mononucleosis that resulted in him missing six games.  Toffoli is fourth on the Kings in points, and his presence in the lineup is more important than ever.

Toffoli knows how to win, he’s done it with the Kings in the past and it needs to be part of the future.

Jonathan Quick will start in goal for the Kings tonight.  Quick’s struggles need to come to a stop . . . quickly.  He’s had a week off to get some rest, heal his bruises, and work on his game.  It’s time for the Champion Quick to get back between the pipes, and lead this team to the promise land again.

Quick is 16-12-10 in 38 starts.  Quick has a goals against average of 2.47 and a save percentage of .912.  In Quick’s last five games his record is 0-2-3.  He needs help in front of him, but he needs to return to form.

If it isn’t already clear as day, the Kings success and future is tied to their brightest star and anchor, and that person is Jonathan Quick.

Blackhawks to keep an eye on:

Brent Seabrook is one of the five Hawks voted to start in the All-Star game.  Back from his stint with the stars, Seabrook will be a force on the ice for the Hawks tonight.  Seabrook is a physical defensemen that loves to punish opposing forwards.  Everyone remembers his knockout hit on St. Louis Blues forward David Backes during the playoffs last year.

Seabrook also serves on the Hawks power-play and has a booming slap-shot from the point.  In 47 games this season Seabrook has 7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points, and an even plus/minus.  4 of Seabrook’s 7 goals have come on the power-play, the most among all of Chicago’s defensemen.  He won’t be hard to spot, but keep an eye on Seabrook to make an impact in tonight’s game.

Brandon Saad has flown under the radar this season.  Saad is second on the Hawks in goals, but he’s not one of the first names you hear when people talk about the team.  In 47 games this season Saad has 15 goals, 17 assists, 32 points, a +8 rating and 1 power-play goal.  Saad’s 32 points put him at 4th on the team.

It’s not just his performance on the score-sheet that makes Saad dangerous.  He’s a tough player and a battler down in the corners.  The Hawks style and systems push their players to fly around the ice.  Saad is one of the skaters that makes that system work.  He’s doesn’t have the big-name reputation of Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, or Jonathan Toews, but he’s one of the players that makes the Hawks a dangerous team to face.

Tonight will be a Royal rumble, as the matchups between these two teams have become.

Be sure to watch this one, you won’t want to miss a minute.

Go Kings Go!

Next: Prospect Watch: Colin Wilson - Update 1.0

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November 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) moves the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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