Game 48 Preview: Los Angeles vs Chicago

Los Angeles Kings (20-15-12) vs Chicago Blackhawks (30-15-2)
Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 7:30 p.m. PT
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Referees: #37 Kyle Rehman, #19 Gord Dwyer
Linesmen: #56 Mark Wheler, #83 Matt MacPherson
NBC Sports Network, KABC 790 AM

Alec Martinez, on whether the Kings-Blackhawks rivalry is built on respect:

Los Angeles Projected Starting Goaltender – Jonathan Quick
2014-15: 39 GP (38 GS) / 16-12-10 record / 2.47 GAA / .912 Sv% / 3 SHO
Career vs Chicago: 20 (19) / 6-13-1 / 2.78 / .909 / 2
Last Game vs Chicago: 11/29/14 / 59 MP / 21-24 / 1-4 L
2014-15, Home: 24 (23) / 13-5-5 / 2.18 / .921 / 3

Chicago Projected Starting Goaltender – Corey Crawford
2014-15: 30 GP (30 GS) / 18-10-2 record / 2.26 GAA / .921 Sv% / 1 SHO
Career vs Los Angeles: 10 (10) / 7-3-0 / 2.56 / .909 / 0
Last Game vs Los Angeles: 11/29/14 / 60 MP / 19-20 shots / 4-1 W
2014-15, Away: 15 (15) / 10-4-1 / 1.98 / .931 / 1

2014-15 Los Angeles Leaders
Total Points: Anze Kopitar (11-26=37)
Goals: Marian Gaborik (15-11=26)
Assists: Anze Kopitar (11-26=37)
Plus/Minus: Tyler Toffoli (+16; 12-15=27)
Penalty Minutes: Kyle Clifford (50; 2-7=9)
Time On Ice: Drew Doughty (29:22; 4-24=28)
Corsi-For Percentage: Trevor Lewis (58.5%; 6-5=11)

2014-15 Chicago Leaders
Total Points: Patrick Kane (22-29=51)
Goals: Patrick Kane (22-29=51)
Assists: Patrick Kane (22-29=51)
Plus/Minus: Jonathan Toews (+16; 14-27=41)
Penalty Minutes: Andrew Shaw (32; 8-6=14), Daniel Carcillo (32; 4-3=7)
Time On Ice: Duncan Keith (25:51; 6-22=28)
Corsi-For Percentage: David Rundblad (53.7%; 3-6=9)

Rankings and Statistics
Goals/Game: LAK – t-15 / 2.72; CHI – 5 / 3.02
Goals Against/Game: LAK – 12 / 2.53; CHI – 2 / 2.28
Power Play: LAK – 13 / 19.3%; CHI – 14 / 18.9%
Penalty Kill: LAK – 25 / 77.8%; CHI – 1 / 88.4%
Shots/Game: LAK – 8 / 31.2; CHI – 1 / 35.4
Shots Against/Game: LAK – 6 / 27.5; CHI – 18/ 29.8
Faceoffs: LAK – 10 / 51.5%; CHI – 6 / 52.4%
Save Percentage: LAK – t-18 / .908; CHI – t-1 / .924
Corsi-For Percentage: LAK – t-1 / 54.5%; CHI – t-2 / 54.4%

Los Angeles Projected Lines

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

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

Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones

Level of confidence in projected lines: A. Jamie McBain and Andy Andreoff remained on the ice for extra work with Martin Jones at today’s morning skate, so they’re likely out tonight. Tyler Toffoli took regular rotations alongside Jeff Carter and Dwight King and was activated from injured reserve this afternoon, so he’ll rejoin the lineup after a six-game absence.

Notes and milestones: Los Angeles is 77-85-22 all-time against Chicago, a record that includes a home mark of 40-40-11. The Kings are 0-1-0 against the Blackhawks in the 2014-15 season series, which will conclude with L.A.’s only visit to the United Center on March 30. … The Kings are 13-7-9 against the Western Conference and 6-4-3 against the Central Division. … In the 23 games since December 1, Los Angeles ranks first in the league with a 57.8% Corsi-for percentage in five-on-five play (1135 Corsi for / 828 Corsi against). … Over the last 23 games, the Kings have been outscored by their opponents 65-64, excluding shootout goals. Over that span, Los Angeles has averaged 2.78 goals per game, while their opponents have averaged 2.83 goals per game. The Kings have scored at least three goals in 11 of their last 19 games. … Los Angeles has outscored its opponents 92-71 in second and third periods this season. … The Kings are 2-12 in games that extend past 60 minutes and 5-6-12 in one-goal games. … Los Angeles leads the NHL with 1,532 hits. … With 98 goals as a King, Justin Williams is two goals from 100. … In 16 regular season and playoff games against Chicago, Tyler Toffoli has seven goals, 13 points and a 57.0% raw Corsi rating (195 CF / 147 CA). … In 27 career regular season games against Chicago, Marian Gaborik has 27 points (12-15=27).

Chicago Projected Lineup

Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp – Brad Richards – Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell – Teuvo Teravainen – Andrew Shaw
Joakim Nordstrom – Marcus Kruger – Ben Smith

Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson – Johnny Oduya
Michal Rozsival – David Rundblad

Corey Crawford
Antti Raanta

Notes and milestones: Kris Versteeg (left hand injury) and Trevor Van Riemsdyk (left patella fracture) are injured and won’t play. Daniel Carcillo is serving the fourth game of a six-game suspension for a cross-check on Winnipeg’s Mathieu Perreault. … David Rundblad has goals in two straight games, a career-high. … Patrick Kane’s 16 career shootout goals are tied for the most among active players. … Chicago goalies have stopped 23-of-25 shootout attempts this season. … The Blackhawks are 7-1-0 in their last eight regular season meetings at Staples Center. Corey Crawford has started the last seven games in Los Angeles, going 6-1-0 with a .908 save percentage. … Chicago has the NHL’s best goal differential at +40. Central Division foes St. Louis (+37) and Nashville (+34) rank second and third in the league, respectively. … The Blackhawks’ 52 first period goals trail only Pittsburgh (53). … With 397 career points, Duncan Keith is three points shy of 400. … With 49 career goals, Andrew Shaw is one goal shy of 50. … Patrick Sharp has 34 points (19-15=34) in 29 career games against Los Angeles.