Game 34 Preview: Los Angeles vs Arizona

Los Angeles Kings (16-11-6) vs Arizona Coyotes (11-16-4)
Saturday, December 20, 2014, 1:00 p.m. PT
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Referees: #10 Paul Devorski, #18 Greg Kimmerly
Linesmen: #86 Brad Lazarowich, #88 Mike Cvik
Fox Sports West, KABC 790 AM

Los Angeles Projected Starting Goaltender – Jonathan Quick
2014-15: 26 GP (26 GS) / 13-8-5 record / 2.30 GAA / .924 Sv% / 3 SHO
Career vs Arizona: 31 (31) / 14-13-4 / 2.60 / .907 / 5
Last Game vs Arizona: 10/11/14 / 65 MP / 37-40 shots / 2-3 L
2014-15, Home: 15 (15) / 11-3-1 / 1.69 / .942 / 3

Arizona Projected Starting Goaltender – Devan Dubnyk
2014-15: 12 GP (10 GS) / 6-2-2 record / 2.55 GAA / .922 Sv% / 1 SHO
Career vs Los Angeles: 9 (8) / 4-3-1 / 2.19 / .933 / 0
Last Game vs Los Angeles: 12/4/14 / 24 MP / 22-23 shots / 0-4 L
2014-15, Away: 6 (5) / 4-0-1 / 2.43 / .927 / 1

2014-15 Los Angeles Leaders
Total Points: Jeff Carter (8-16=24)
Goals: Tanner Pearson (11-3=14)
Assists: Jeff Carter (8-16=24), Drew Doughty (3-16=19)
Plus/Minus: Tyler Toffoli (+13; 10-13=23), Tanner Pearson (+13; 11-3=14)
Penalty Minutes: Matt Greene (38; 2-1=3)
Time On Ice: Drew Doughty (29:07; 3-16=19)
Corsi-For Percentage: Jake Muzzin (57.4%; 3-13=16)

2014-15 Arizona Leaders
Total Points: Antoine Vermette (8-13=21)
Goals: Mikkel Boedker (9-11=20)
Assists: Keith Yandle (3-17=20)
Plus/Minus: Tobias Rieder (+3; 4-3=7)
Penalty Minutes: B.J. Crombeen (43; 1-1=2)
Time On Ice: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (26:02; 7-8=15)
Corsi-For Percentage: Martin Erat (53.0%; 5-8=13)

Rankings and Statistics
Goals/Game: LAK – 16 / 2.70; ARI – 25 / 2.26
Goals Against/Game: LAK – 6 / 2.36; ARI – 27 / 3.16
Power Play: LAK – t-17 / 17.4%; ARI – 10 / 20.4%
Penalty Kill: LAK – 20 / 79.8%; ARI – 28 / 76.0%
Shots/Game: LAK – 7 / 31.5; ARI – 23 / 29.0
Shots Against/Game: LAK – t-16 / 29.7; ARI – t-24 / 31.5
Faceoffs: LAK – 13/ 50.6%; ARI – t-4 / 52.9%
Save Percentage: LAK – 7 / .920; ARI – t-26 / .900
Corsi-For Percentage: LAK – 4 / 53.3%; ARI – 22 / 48.9%

Los Angeles Projected Lines

Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Jeff Carter
Dustin Brown – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams
Tanner Pearson – Trevor Lewis – Tyler Toffoli
Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Dwight King

Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Alec Martinez – Matt Greene
Brayden McNabb – Jamie McBain

Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones

Level of confidence in projected lines: B. The above alignment reflects the line rushes that were used in Friday’s practice. The only potential change surrounds whether Jeff Schultz, recalled yesterday from AHL-Manchester, would replace Jamie McBain. It’s a possibility; expect both to take the ice for warm-ups. Jonathan Quick left the ice at practice first and is expected to start against Arizona.

Notes and milestones: Los Angeles is 81-96-33 all-time against the Arizona/Phoenix/Winnipeg franchise, a record that includes a home mark of 45-42-16. The Kings are 8-2-0 in the last 10 regular season home meetings with the Coyotes. The teams will conclude their season series on March 16 at Staples Center. Because of the scheduling imbalance, Los Angeles will play Arizona four times and all other Pacific Division teams five times. … The Kings are 10-5-3 against the Western Conference and 4-1-2 against the Pacific Division. … Los Angeles has averaged 3.05 goals per game over their last 19 games (58 G / 19 GP). The Kings have allowed 2.77 goals per game over their last 13 games (36 GA / 13 GP). Their opponents have scored at least three goals in five straight games. … Los Angeles has a 56.8% Corsi-for rating in five-on-five play over the last 14 games (685 CF / 521 CA). The Kings haven’t been outshot over the last nine games (4-4-1) and have averaged 36.4 shots per game over that span (328 shots / 9 GP). Opposing goalies have posted a .929 save percentage over that span (303 saves / 326 shots). … Los Angeles is 14-for-23 on the penalty kill over the last seven games. … With 114 regular season wins, Darryl Sutter (114-68-30) is one win behind Tom Webster (115-94-31) for fifth overall on the Kings’ all-time wins list. … Marian Gaborik has goals in three straight games (5-1=6), tied for the longest goal streak by a King this season (Carter and Pearson, October 11-14). It’s Gaborik’s longest streak since October 20-25, 2013 (with Columbus). The last two games represent the first time since December 17-20, 2011 (with New York Rangers) that he has recorded two-or-more goals in consecutive games. … Anze Kopitar has six points (1-5=6) in the last two games. … Jeff Carter has five points (1-4=5) in the last two games. … Drew Doughty has assists in two straight games and six points (1-5=6) in the last five games. … Jake Muzzin has five points (2-3=5) in the last five games. … Kyle Clifford is expected to play in his 300th NHL game. … Should Jeff Schultz play, he’d record the 400th game of his career. … Anze Kopitar has 50 points (15-35=50) in 51 career games against Arizona. … Marian Gaborik has 30 points (21-9=30) in 32 career games against Arizona.

Arizona Projected Lineup

Mikkel Boedker – Antoine Vermette – Shane Doan
Tobias Rieder – Martin Hanzal – Sam Gagner
Martin Erat – Kyle Chipchura – David Moss
Brandon McMillan – Joe Vitale – B.J. Crombeen

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Zbynek Michalek
Keith Yandle – David Schlemko
Chris Summers – Connor Murphy

Devan Dubnyk
Mike Smith

Notes and milestones: Lines via Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic. … Martin Hanzal was away from the team yesterday as his wife gave birth to a baby girl. It is unclear if he’ll play; if he doesn’t, Alexandre Bolduc could enter into Arizona’s lineup. … Lauri Korpikoski (lower-body) is doubtful for today’s game, while Michael Stone (upper-body) is out. … Dave Tippett will coach the 900th NHL game of his career today, becoming the 30th coach in league history to do so. … General Manager Don Maloney has tied John Ferguson (278) for first on the franchise’s all-time general manager’s wins list. … Shane Doan will play the 100th game of his career against Los Angeles. With 76 points (36-40=76) in 99 games against the Kings, Doan has recorded more points against L.A. than any other NHL opponent. … Arizona has been outscored 35-18 in third periods this season. … The Coyotes are 12-for-43 on the power play in away games (27.9%), the second best road mark in the NHL. … Arizona is 2-2 in shootouts this season. Devan Dubnyk is 1-2, stopping 5-of-9 shots, while Antoine Vermette has scored on all three shootout attempts. … Martin Hanzal is second in the NHL amongst qualifying players with a 59.0% faceoff percentage.