Game 47 Preview: Los Angeles at San Jose

Los Angeles Kings (20-14-12) vs San Jose Sharks (24-17-6)
Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 7:30 p.m. PT
SAP Center, San Jose, CA
Referees: #3 Mike Leggo, #29 Ian Walsh
Linesmen: #55 Shane Heyer, #82 Ryan Galloway
NBC Sports Network, KABC 790 AM

Justin Williams, on how he’d describe the recent home stand:

Los Angeles Projected Starting Goaltender – Jonathan Quick
2014-15: 38 GP (37 GS) / 16-11-10 record / 2.45 GAA / .912 Sv% / 3 SHO
Career vs San Jose: 23 (23) / 12-5-5 / 2.49 / .911 / 3
Last Game vs San Jose: 12/27/14 / 60 MP / 21-22 / 3-1 W
2014-15, Away: 14 (14) / 3-6-5 / 2.87 / .900 / 0

San Jose Projected Starting Goaltender – Antti Niemi
2014-15: 34 GP (34 GS) / 18-11-5 record / 2.59 GAA / .911 Sv% / 3 SHO
Career vs Los Angeles: 24 (24) / 13-7-3 / 2.37 / .924 / 3
Last Game vs Los Angeles: 12/27/14 / 57 MP / 26-29 shots / 1-3 L
2014-15, Home: 16 (16) / 8-5-3 / 2.64 / .897 / 1

2014-15 Los Angeles Leaders
Total Points: Anze Kopitar (11-24=35)
Goals: Marian Gaborik (15-10=25)
Assists: Anze Kopitar (11-24=35), Drew Doughty (4-24=28)
Plus/Minus: Tyler Toffoli (+16; 12-15=27)*
Penalty Minutes: Jarret Stoll (48; 5-9=14)
Time On Ice: Drew Doughty (29:23; 4-24=28)
Corsi-For Percentage: Trevor Lewis (59.2%; 6-5=11)
*On injured reserve; Alec Martinez (+13; 5-12=17) leads active players

2014-15 San Jose Leaders
Total Points: Joe Pavelski (23-18=41)
Goals: Joe Pavelski (23-18=41)
Assists: Joe Thornton (10-26=36)
Plus/Minus: Marc-Edouard Vlasic (+12; 6-9=15)
Penalty Minutes: Brent Burns (42; 11-24=35)
Time On Ice: Brent Burns (23:56; 11-24=35)
Corsi-For Percentage: Joe Thornton (58.1%; 10-26=36)

Rankings and Statistics
Goals/Game: LAK – t-13 / 2.74; SJS – 19 / 2.66
Goals Against/Game: LAK – 10 / 2.50; SJS – 18 / 2.68
Power Play: LAK – t-12 / 19.2%; SJS – 9 / 20.5%
Penalty Kill: LAK – 24 / 78.7%; SJS – t-15 / 81.5%
Shots/Game: LAK – t-6 / 31.3; SJS – 9 / 30.9
Shots Against/Game: LAK – 6 / 27.6; SJS – t-14 / 29.1
Faceoffs: LAK – 10 / 51.4%; SJS – 8 / 51.8%
Save Percentage: LAK – t-17 / .909; SJS – t-20 / .908
Corsi-For Percentage: LAK – 1 / 54.7%; SJS – 16 / 51.1%

Los Angeles Projected Lines

Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Dustin Brown
Dwight King – Nick Shore – Jeff Carter
Trevor Lewis – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams
Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Jordan Nolan

Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Robyn Regehr – Alec Martinez
Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene

Jonathan Quick
J.F. Berube

Level of confidence in projected lines: A-. Andy Andreoff and Jamie McBain remained on the ice for extra work with J.F. Berube, so they’re likely out tonight. There could be some adjustments in the defensive pairs, though the forward lines above are likely to be used at the outset of tonight’s game.

Notes and milestones: The Kings are 58-56-19 all-time against the Sharks, a record that includes a road mark of 21-33-12. Los Angeles is 2-4-4 in its last 10 regular season trips to the SAP Center. Because the two teams meet three times at Staples Center and once at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, this is the teams’ only meeting in San Jose this season. … The Kings are 13-6-9 against the Western Conference and 7-2-6 against the Pacific Division. … Dean Lombardi will preside over his 669th game as Los Angeles’ general manager tonight, surpassing Rogie Vachon as the longest tenured general manager in franchise history. Earlier this year (October 14 versus Edmonton), he won his 300th NHL game as Kings general manager, becoming the first Los Angeles GM to reach the 300 win plateau. … The Kings are 2-12 in games that extend past 60 minutes and 5-6-12 in one-goal games. … In the 22 games since December 1, Los Angeles ranks first in the league with a 58.4% Corsi-for percentage in five-on-five play (1104 Corsi for / 785 Corsi against). … Over the last 22 games, the Kings have outscored their opponents 62-61, excluding shootout goals. Over that span, Los Angeles has averaged 2.82 goals per game, while their opponents have averaged 2.77 goals per game. The Kings have scored at least three goals in 11 of their last 18 games. … The Kings lead the league with 1,487 total hits. … Matt Greene is expected to play in his 400th game with Los Angeles. … With 98 goals as a King, Justin Williams is two goals shy of 100. … The Kings will wear their black jerseys tonight.

San Jose Projected Lines

Melker Karlsson – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski
Patrick Marleau – Logan Couture – Matt Nieto
Tomas Hertl – James Sheppard – Tyler Kennedy
John Scott – Andrew Desjardins – Barclay Goodrow

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon – Matt Tennyson
Matt Irwin – Scott Hannan

Antti Niemi
Alex Stalock

Notes and milestones: Lines via Kevin Kurz of CSNBayArea.com … Via Kurz, San Jose will be without Justin Braun (upper body), Tommy Wingels (hand), Raffi Torres (knee) and Mike Brown (leg). Rookie defenseman Mirco Mueller is on a conditioning assignment with AHL-Worcester. … Home teams are 14-2-1 in the last 17 regular season games between the teams. … Melker Karlsson, who has 11 points (7-4=11) in his first 18 games, is tied for third amongst NHL rookies in goals scored. … Joe Pavelski is tied for second in the NHL with 11 power play goals. Since 2010-11, only Alex Ovechkin (72) and Steven Stamkos (55) have scored more power play goals than Pavelski (51). … Patrick Marleau has 84 points (38-46=84) in 95 career games against Los Angeles. … Joe Thornton has 62 points (13-49=62) in 67 career games against Los Angeles.

Todd McLellan’s Press Conference