This is the first of three meetings between Los Angeles and Columbus this season. After tonight, the two teams will meet at Staples Center on Friday, February 15 and on Thursday, April 18.
Lots more after the jump…
Last year, the Kings finished 2-2-0 against the Blue Jackets, going 1-1-0 at home and 1-1-0 on the road. The highest scoring game between the two teams was a 3-2 Los Angeles win on February 1, the infamous clock-gate game in which Drew Doughty scored the game-winner immediately before the buzzer. The Kings averaged 1.5 goals per game against Columbus last season and were actually outscored 7-6 in the season series.
Jonathan Quick started three of four games against the Blue Jackets last season, going 2-1 with a 1.35 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. Overall, he has a lifetime record of 8-5-0 against Columbus with a 2.08 GAA and a .913 Sv%.
Steve Mason started one game against Los Angeles last season and left after 31 minutes after his hand was cut by defenseman John Moore’s skate blade, requiring 15 stitches. He stopped 16 of 17 shots and earned the win in a 3-1 Blue Jackets victory on March 8. Lifetime, the 6’4, 211 pound goaltender is 5-6-0 with a 3.29 GAA and .881 Sv% against L.A.
Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty tied team lead in scoring against Columbus last year. Each player recorded one goal and two assists against the Blue Jackets in the season series.
The Kings have won four of the last five meetings in Columbus and eight of the last 11 meetings overall. Since the Blue Jackets joined the league in 2000-01, Los Angeles is 23-17-4 overall and 10-9-3 overall on the road against Columbus.
The Blue Jackets are coming off a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Nationwide Arena on Saturday. Artem Anisimov earned first star honors with two goals to take over the team lead with four goals overall. Mason was named the game’s second star with 32 saves on 34 shots.
Columbus made a major trade with the New York Rangers in July, acquiring Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, Anisimov and a first round draft pick in exchange for Rick Nash, minor league defenseman Steve Delisle and a conditional third round pick. Dubinsky (0-4=4, -4) and Anisimov (4-1-5, -1) have assumed major roles, while Erixon is scoreless and a minus-1 in two games since being recalled from AHL-Springfield, where he had led the team in defensive scoring with five goals and 24 assists in 40 games. He made his NHL debut against the Kings in last year’s NHL Premiere in Stockholm, a game won 3-2 in overtime by Los Angeles on Jack Johnson’s overtime game-winner. He is also the son of former Rangers defenseman Tim Erixon.
Speaking of Johnson, he has three points (1-2=3) and a minus-2 rating in nine games. Overall, Johnson has appeared in 30 games for the Blue Jackets since last year’s trade, totaling 17 points (5-12=17) and a plus-3 rating.
Goals/Game: LAK –27th / 2.14; CBJ – 29th / 1.89
Goals Against/Game: LAK – 24th / 3.14; CBJ – t-20th / 3.00
Power Play: LAK – 27th / 10.8%; CBJ – 23rd / 14.6%
Penalty Kill: LAK – 17th / 79.4%; CBJ – 7th / 85.7%
Faceoffs: LAK – 16 / 49.8%; CBJ – 28th / 46.3%
Projected Lines – Los Angeles
Dustin Brown – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Simon Gagne – Mike Richards – Jeff Carter
Dwight King – Jarret Stoll – Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford – Colin Fraser – Jordan Nolan
Rob Scuderi – Drew Doughty
Slava Voynov – Alec Martinez
Davis Drewiske – Jake Muzzin
Jonathan Quick
Jonathan Bernier
Notes: Dustin Penner, Brad Richardson and Andrew Bodnarchuk are the projected scratches. Dwight King is poised to re-enter the lineup and likely to slot back alongside Jarret Stoll and Trevor Lewis. As always, lineup projections are educated assessments and not certain alignments.
Projected Lines – Columbus
Derek Brassard – Brandon Dubinsky – Nick Foligno
R.J. Umberger – Artem Anisimov – Derek Dorsett
Matt Calvert – Ryan Johansen – Vinny Prospal
Mark Letestu – Derek MacKenzie – Jared Boll
Jack Johnson – Tim Erixon
Fedor Tyutin – Cody Goloubef
David Savard – Nick Holden
Steve Mason
Sergei Bobrovsky
Notes: James Wisniewski, John Moore, Nikita Nikitin and Adrian Aucoin are all injured defensemen and won’t play tonight. Cody Goloubef’s time at the University of Wisconsin overlapped with Davis Drewiske for one year, in 2007-08. Tim Erixon, Nick Holden, David Savard and Goloubef have a combined 59 games of NHL experience – 33 of which belong to Savard, who had 10 points in 31 games with Columbus a season ago. Forward Cam Atkinson (ankle) is expected to miss a seventh straight game. The Blue Jackets are coming off their first two-day break in the schedule. As always, lineup projections are educated assessments and not certain alignments.
Quotes:
Justin Williams, on the importance of opening the trip on the right note:
“All you have to do is look at the standings to know how important they are. We’re 2-3-2. We’re behind where we expected to be at the outset of the season. It’s going to be an extremely important game. We’re looking to obviously win every single game we play. We need to start with tonight.”
Williams, on playing “ticked off” against Columbus:
“Individually, everyone needs to find their game. They shouldn’t be any more ‘ticked off’ tonight as you were two games ago. It should be the drive to be there every night, and there’s really no excuses.”
Williams, on whether there’s an added importance to forecheck and make hits deep in the offensive zone on a depleted Columbus defensive corps:
“No. Players play in the National Hockey League for a reason. Obviously some are better than others, but we don’t alter our system just because one of one or two players in the back end being out. We’ll try and play as hard of a game as we can and make it as difficult as we can for ‘em back there.”
Alec Martinez, on the team utilizing the experience of having played with Jack Johnson:
“I mean, yeah, you play with him for a while. You know him as a player. You know that he’s a really good player. He’s capable of making plays and things like that. He’s one of their best D-men, so we’ve just got to approach it like we do every other team’s top D-man and get in on him on the forecheck and just know that he’s a good player.”
Martinez, on what the team will be looking to establish on this roadtrip:
“I think first and foremost, we need a good start, not only obviously to the game, and then also to the roadtrip. I think just playing our game and staying staying consistent within our system – that’s what we need, especially at the beginning and then carry it on out and play a full 60 minutes. I think that this is a big game for us, and the start’s going to be crucial.”
Martinez, a former Miami University Red Hawk, on the Miami – Ohio State rivalry:
“I think we considered them our biggest rival. I don’t know if they necessarily considered us, because they’ve got that Ohio State-Michigan thing. I think that we won a lot of hockey games when I was at Miami, so that was good. Obviously, the in-state rivalry and only being two hours away was big. Plus, we played ‘em four times a year. I think, actually, between that, and then our Christmas tournament here, we always ended up meeting them in the finals, so we played them five times a year, which was a ton, especially in college. Obviously, that rivalry was there. It was kind of like how us and Anaheim are now. It was always a battle, regardless of any of the situations. It was a lot of fun, though.”
Come on Kings lets start a winning Streak starting today!!!
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this is a game we need to win – period…
i hope we don’t play down to their level..
it’s time to get on the same page and bond by winning on the road…(!)
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
@V,
Period, with a +3-4 goal differential…
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As a Chapman University alum, I was happy to see on the Kings website that the Kings and the Chapman hockey team, coached by former King Kyle Calder, are holding a fundraising event in Riverside this Friday. I have to work, but for those of you who can make it, it sounds like a good time for everyone.
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variable Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
@DesertKing,
calder – glad he’s found a place to work…
he really had an up and down career…and he was horrible for us while he was here…
i wish him the best of luck behind the bench…:)
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
@variable, Well, he got a Cup and a Trophy named for him … and Colin Fraser’s son..
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variable Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
@Duncanz,
true…
so maybe his legacy lives on…:)
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
@V,
Kyle spent the last two springs with the Bakersfield Condors, and made them much much better. It was not only his skill but his coaching ability.
Knowing he’s not coming this season to save the Condors depresses me to no end.
–Thank you, Mr. Kyle Calder. You are sorely missed in CondorsTown…
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variable Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
B…
i know…that you know…that i…oh,…
you are on top of condors hockey…24/7…yr my eye in the sky for all-things-condors-related…(…and Kingsnewsdaily.com, too:))
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
@V,
…Okay…
Just had to shout the guy out for being willing to enter the never-never land known as Bakersfield, CA.
Not many do.
I knew you knew that.
So, there.
One paper, we look huge. Nolan, Fraser and Clifford on the same line. How do we not win? All four lines are world class, and with Quick in goal? The mind boggles!
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variable Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
games are not played on paper, though…
they are played by tiny lil’ men in the slipstream of yr tv set…:)
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elijah Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
@variable, if only those tiny lil’ men could read, then they would know how good they are supposed to be.
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variable Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
@elijah,
it’s never too late to become literate – just ask jacques demers…:)
hbjohn Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:11 pm
@kissmyblarneystones, Just look at the defense on paper and you will get your answer. Winning always starts with the defense, if the defense can’t get the puck to the forwards with one pass out of the zone, the offense sufffers.
Muzzin, Drewiski, and Marty not too great of a bottom 3. Your asking marty to be the #3 guy, that’s not good at all. Plus, where is the toughness on D? We a really missing Willie and Greene.
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
@hbjohn,
No Doubt!
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Happy us Kings fans in NH won’t have to stay up til the wee hours of the morning to watch the game.
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Thanks Jon
Good reading
Go Kings Go!
Lets work like a team boys this afternoon night, we have had enough games now to do so, thats all that needs to click teamwork and go the the front of the net, and shoot and shoot and shoot something like a puck will go in
Go Kings Go!
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So what happened to Richardson? He got appendicitis again?
Bob – ‘He’s faster without that appendix’.
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it’s weird that Vinny Prospal is a third liner for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
also at some point the gamenotes should include the fact that I think the Columbus announcers are amongst the worst in the league. i write this primarily because they can never pronounce “Anze” properly. Instead of “Ahn-jay” they go butcher it with “Ahn-Z”.
Very annoying.
Yes Jackets fans, our #1 center is the Slovenian brother to Jay-Z.
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KOHO Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
@Shakes, ~Yes Jackets fans, our #1 center is the Slovenian brother to Jay-Z.~ funny!
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
@Shakes, They’re also rather dour and stodgy in their delivery. No wonder so many denizens go to the games rather than stay at home and subject themselves to the TV commentary.
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I guess Penner is back in DS’s doghouse. You would think that with his size that he could really be a force out there. For whatever reason, Penner just glides along and is content to play mediocre hockey. Enough with the Penner experiment. Hopefully they don’t renew this guy’s contract this Summer and use the money for someone who actually wants to play.
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variable Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
@Jeff,
other than the playoffs last year, where he looked a lot like todd bertuzi in his better days, penner has not lived up to our expectations…
i realize the guy is human, as he had some outside issues that might have contributed to why we are where we are with him…however, this guy just seems like he’s not all that interested in putting a full-effort every game…
we see him play differently on a shift-by-shift basis…when yr coach starts calling you out in some shape or form – like ds did to gagne and williams the other day – that’s not a good sign…
this is a team that has a lot of depth, but is not playing up to their overall ability and skill-sets…in a lot of ways, penner is a microcosm of the this current kings team…in fact, we are seeing these guys fall into some very familia5 ol’bad habits early on…like losing defensive face-offs..(we are ranked 16th, just a smidge under 50% in F0% overall…), getting fatigued early…missing assignments…getting out-shot…etc…
again, no time like the present to make gold out of hay…(!)
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DesertKing Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
@variable,
+1
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OCKingGirl Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
@Jeff, He was certainly not the only Ling to play mediocre or worse in the game vs. the Ducks. Our defense has some real weak points and our goaltending was subpar. How can Penner get a chance to get back in favor if he is continually benched? Bench Richards or Gagne or King instead.
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Stollie getting some love, consolation and absolution from the Dept of Player Safety on NHLN right now despite his scary ‘Fowler’ play on Saturday night.
Lucky they saw it that way…
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Forum Gold Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
@Duncanz, Boudreau sure did not. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
@Forum Gold, Brendan said he phoned them to, you know, put them straight on the matter.
GO KINGS (& Shanny) GO!!!
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Munchrat Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
@Duncanz, Looks like Shanny is lightening up this season…
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
@Munchrat, You’re not kiddin’! Looks like EJ passed him the Ambien before he reviewed that play and the Stuart/Landeskog one..
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Munchrat Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
@Duncanz, All seriousness aside, Many players are stopping up just short of the boards trying to bait someone to make an illegal hit. Time to call ‘em out.
Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
@Munchrat, But I can’t for one moment blame Fowler for what happened to him there.
He was trying to make a play on the puck.
Shanahan on NHL Live just gave a nice analysis of Stoll’s hit on Cam Fowler the other night.
It maybe should have been a minor penalty, but does not rise to the level of supplemental discipline.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
@Munchrat,
If you were a Ducks fan you wouldn’t be to happy. He virtually charged Cammy Boy with being the architect of his own demise there..
I especially liked the bit about how Stollie’s crunching elbow was utilized simply to slow his own momentum into the glass.
I think that’s how most Kings fans (and absolutely no one else) saw it …
It could be fortunate they’ve forgotten all those (normally early 1st Period) penalties he took last season for repeatedly similar crimes/actions.
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Munchrat Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
@Duncanz, It’s a kinder, gentler Shanny…
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
@Munchrat, Maybe he met Jessica Welch!
She seems to have that sort of effect on hockey guys..
Hate the road game TV schedule with games not in the Pacific time zone…why cant every game cater to my work schedule damnit?! I mean whats more important than allowing me to watch every minute of Kings hockey?
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Munchrat Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Loving this start time here in NY!!
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Forum Gold Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
@Munchrat, It’s almost time to go to the fridge. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Munchrat Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:11 pm
@Forum Gold, Already there!
A growler of Captain Lawrence Imperial IPA is on hand – Just as it was throughout last season’s playoffs!
GKG!!
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
@Munchrat,
I would imagie so…enjoy!
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Shakes Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, thank god! i can go to bed before 1:30am now… hooray eastern time zone games!
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
@Shakes, The 5:00pm PST games I can deal with as long as I bust ass home I only miss like 1/2 the first period but the 4 oclockers kill me (why dont I get a DVR?). I feel for fans in the East though…I wouldnt miss a game as Im sure most of you dont regardless of 10-12:30pm starts. My Boss would have to give me mornings off or deal with Zombie employee all day
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who would have thoght Clifford leads the team in scoring still and he hasn’t got a point in a week and bit ago…….
at some point and maybe tonight he might give up the title, but who would have thought it …….
outside of me of course, I think he could do it all season if given the chance others do on a regular basis
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Munchrat Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
@harty, The more things change, the more they stay the same…
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