LA Kings: Two lineup changes we want to see for Ducks finale
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.
1. Bring back Austin Strand
Ahead of Wednesday’s game, the LA Kings have to figure out a way to get Austin Strand back into the lineup. He was called up to the taxi squad on Tuesday, but unlike the last time he was with the NHL club, there is a logjam on the right side.
Don’t get me wrong. I like Sean Walker. His ability and courage to come back from a puck to the face is nothing short of heroic. He’s accounted for nearly 190 minutes of on-ice time this season but has accounted for a 43.9 xGF%. Going one step further, when Walker is on the bench, the Kings have a 46.7 xGF%, per NaturalStatTrick.
Going back to Strand.
He played excellent in Walker’s absence and helped steady Olli Maatta when he was struggling to figure out Todd McLellan’s system. In just under 100 minutes of on-ice time, the undrafted free agent defenseman accumulated a 48.4 xGF%. Of course, Strand isn’t known for his offensive prowess along the blueline.
But in a limited sample size, he’s proven to positively impact the defensive unit.
2. Stop playing Kurtis MacDermid
The other move that will happen organically is inserting Tobias Bjornfot back into the lineup. McLellan indicated the 19-year-old missed Monday’s game and didn’t skate on Tuesday because he “just wasn’t feeling right.” The LA Kings head coach didn’t believe it to be COVID-19-related and expects him to be back on Wednesday night.
This is great because Kurtis MacDermid simply cannot play anymore. He’s played in 13 games this season and racked up nearly 160 minutes of on-ice time, but MacDermid has accounted for a 40.9 xGF%, per NaturalStatTrick.
He’s primarily been paired with Walker, and the duo has the fourth-worst xGF% (33.3 percent) in the NHL.
Maatta’s play further justifies dynamic defenseman need. dark. Next
Bjornfot has shown growing pains in his first full NHL season, but he offers way more at this point than MacDermid. It’s time for some lineup changes to shore up the LA Kings defense. Might we see general manager Rob Blake make a trade to acquire a defenseman at the April 12 deadline if the team is in contention?