After a shootout thriller win on Wednesday over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, the Los Angeles Kings head up north of the border this upcoming weekend for a battle with the Winnipeg Jets on the road. This will be the second contest in a three-game road trip for head coach Jim Hiller and the Kings early this fall in the regular season this weekend.
Quinton Byfield and the Los Angeles Kings head up north of the border to Canada this weekend to face the Winnipeg Jets
There won't be any breaks early this regular season for the Kings amid a three-game road trip against the Golden Knights, Jets, and the Minnesota Wild early next week away from LA.
The Kings had the Jets number on the road in Winnipeg in the past couple of seasons. Not only did the Kings sweep the regular season series against the Jets this past regular season, but LA also won two of the past three games north of the border in Winnipeg.
This will be a great matchup between Adrian Kempe and the Kings and star winger Kyle Connor and the Jets on Saturday morning in Winnipeg.
Here are three bold predictions for the Kings this upcoming weekend on the road against the Jets at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB, on Oct. 11 at 10:30 a.m. PT.
Quinton Byfield keeps his goal streak alive with two markers vs. Winnipeg on Saturday
The Golden Knights got the full experience of trying, and unsuccessfully, limiting the skill and playmaking of Kings' center Quinton Byfield on Wednesday in the shootout win in Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. Byfield had his first multi-point game of the regular season this fall for the Kings in the win over the Golden Knights, scoring one goal and one assist in regulation.
Byfield showed off his instincts and raw speed and playmaking on the breakaway goal he scored against Adin Hill and the Golden Knights in the game's first period.
He also delivered a nice assist on the game-tying goal for the Kings in clutch time in the third period earlier this week, helping to get the puck up the ice and onto the stick of defenseman Brandt Clarke before it ended up in the back of the net behind Hill in the final frame.
It was definitely a positive sign in the development of Byfield as he continues to prove why he's one of the top young centers in the Western Conference this season.
Anze Kopitar wins 80 percent of the faceoffs he takes vs. Winnipeg
Riding a two-game point streak early this regular season, Kings' center Anze Kopitar has contributed on both ends of the ice to LA's core forward lines with the top unit this week. At one point of the game in the home opener vs. Colorado, Kopitar had won over 80 percent of his faceoff attempts in the game's second period.
Possession is a crucial part of the Kings' game. The Kings thrive when they can wear down their opponents and control the pace of play on both ends of the ice in the third period in clutch time.
Kopitar demolished the Avs in the faceoff circle in the home opener a few nights ago. He won 77 percent of his faceoff attempts (13-for-17) against the Avs in the opener on Tuesday, dominating the faceoff circle for the Kings at full strength and for the special teams on the power play.
Connor Hellebuyck and Darcy Kuemper both have 30+ saves
LA and Winnipeg boast two of the best and steadiest starting goaltenders in the league in the NHL this season. Darcy Kuemper and Connor Hellebuyck were two of the best goalies in the NHL this past season, as they were both Vezina Trophy finalists from the Western Conference last year.
Both Kuemper and Hellebuyck left something to be desired in their season's first starts this week in the past couple of days. Kuemper posted an .826 save percentage and stopped under 20 shots on goal from the Avs in the home opener this past Tuesday.
Hellebuyck let five get past him, including three in the game's third period in the Jets' opener on Thursday at home in Winnipeg against Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars.