Opportunity there for Andreoff, retooled fourth line

Other than a productive two-week conditioning stint in Manchester, Andy Andreoff hasn’t seen much ice over the last two months, having appeared in one game – the 3-2 shootout loss in Edmonton on December 30 – since logging eight straight appearances in October. He hasn’t been on the ice for any goals for or against this season.

But with Tanner Pearson (broken fibula) and Tyler Toffoli (mononucleosis) out for extended periods of time, Andreoff will be among the players vying to take advantage of an opportunity during a window when the Kings will need all hands on deck.

“I’d say Andreoff and Nolan would both be in the very same boat,” Darryl Sutter said. “Guys who have played a handful of shifts once in a while and need to play a hell of a lot better than they have.”

Sutter was being blunt and direct. Also easy to understand: Andreoff and Nolan, and likely linemate Kyle Clifford, will look to demonstrate their skill sets and utilize their sandpaper tendencies.

“I think we’ll be a good fourth line out there,” Andreoff said. “We’ll create a lot of energy for the guys. Hopefully when we create a little bit of energy, the boys will follow and get a couple of goals. Hopefully we can get a good start and first goal tonight. We’ll see how it goes.”

“It’s obviously really tough seeing Toffoli and Pearson go,” Andreoff added. “They’re really key guys on the team. It gives me an opportunity to get out there and show my skills. It’s tough to get into the lineup here, so I have to take advantage of these next couple of games that I get in.”

A native of Pickering, Ontario, just outside of Toronto and a short shot from Toffoli’s hometown of Scarborough, Andreoff said he has “been watching [the Maple Leafs] my whole life.”

“A dream come true I guess, finally playing the Toronto Maple Leafs. It will be pretty exciting.”

Any personal emotional attachment is highly secondary to the team’s need to collect points. Through three games on their season-long, seven-game homestand, Los Angeles is 0-1-2.

“We’re just battling for a playoff spot,” Andreoff said. “We have to take advantage of every point. We don’t want to look back at these games like ‘Oh, we could’ve had this point or those points.’ So we’ve got to bear down on this next home stand.”

Andy Andreoff, on the club’s roster as a representation of successful development:
Yeah, they’ve got a great development crew. They’re really good with the guys down in Manchester. They always visit and help with everything. I played in Manchester for two years, they helped me out there. I finally made the Kings. I think they’re doing a great job with it.

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