LA Kings: Two lineup changes we want to see for Ducks finale
By Ryan Sikes
If the LA Kings want to shore up their defense and take three of four points against Anaheim, these two lineup changes are needed.
Prior to Monday’s Freeway Faceoff series opener against the LA Kings, the Anaheim Ducks only scored five or more goals once all season. Oddly enough, it happened two days before the Ducks-Kings game on Monday, a 5-4 overtime victory against Colorado.
Head coach Todd McLellan sounded absolutely deflated in Monday’s postgame press conference, indicating his team looked sloppy from start to finish, with half of the team still not ready to play the game. Slow starts have been the central theme for the LA Kings this year. It’s to the point where it’s borderline annoying.
The Ducks are expected to finish in the bottom five of the NHL, and while the LA Kings are by no means a Stanley Cup contender, there’s no denying there are significantly improved from last season. The Kings’ effort on Monday was inexcusable, allowing goal after goal after goal. Yes, Adrian Kempe put the team on his back, tallying his second-career NHL hat trick.
But the defense was nowhere to be found. Two lineup changes are needed before puck drop on Wednesday evening.