12/16 Preview – Optional Skate Today + Seven Straight Divisional Games, Kaliyev Back In, KCAL

WHO: Los Angeles Kings (16-6-4) @ Seattle Kraken (10-14-7)
WHAT: NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME
WHEN: Saturday, December 16 @ 7:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: KCAL-TV (Ch. 9) – AUDIO – iHeart Radio – TWITTER: @DooleyLAK & @LAKings

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Kings hit the road to begin a stretch of seven consecutive games within the Pacific Division, beginning tonight against the Seattle Kraken.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Forward Kevin Fiala led the way last season with six points (1-5-6) from four games played versus Seattle. Fiala also had five assists from three games played against the Kraken during the 2021-22 season, Seattle’s first in the NHL. Only Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl has more career assists versus the Kraken than Fiala’s 10.

KINGS VITALS: Following a pair of practice days, the Kings held an optional skate today in Seattle, that was sparsely attended.

Goaltender Cam Talbot did not take the morning skate today, making him tonight’s projected starting netminder versus the Kraken. Talbot has faced Seattle three times throughout his career, posting a record of 1-2-0, with a .894 save percentage and a 3.24 goals-against average.

Based on what we’ve seen here over the last couple of days, here’s what we could see in terms of tonight’s lineup –

Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe
Fiala – Danault – Moore
Grundstrom – Dubois – Laferriere
Lewis – Lizotte – Kaliyev
Anderson-Dolan

Anderson – Doughty
Moverare – Roy
Englund – Spence
Bjornfot

Talbot
Rittich

As noted yesterday, goaltender Pheonix Copley left practice with an injury and will be replaced tonight by goaltender David Rittich, on an emergency recall. No update at this time on Copley’s status, but he naturally is not on the trip here to Washington. Tonight’s projected lineup includes forward Arthur Kaliyev, who missed out on Wednesday with “flu-like symptoms”. More on Kaliyev below. Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Tobias Bjornfot were on late, making them tonight’s projected extras.

KRAKEN VITALS: Seattle has won its last two games, both at home, as they snapped what was an eight-game losing streak coming in.

Per Kate Schfte of the Seattle Times, goaltender Joey Daccord was off first this morning, making him tonight’s projected starter for the hosts. Daccord has never faced the Kings in his NHL career. He carries a record this season of 5-5-6, with a .904 save percentage and a 2.62 goals-against average.

Per Mike Benton of the Kraken Audio Network, here’s how Seattle aligned this morning –

Tomas Tatar is here, Jordan Eberle not on ice with main group. Here’s how morning skate line rushes vs LA Kings are shaping:

McCann-Beniers-Tatar
Kartye-Wennberg-Tanev
Tolvanen-Gourde-Bjorkstrand
Shore-Belleamre-Yamamoto

Dunn-Larsson
Oleksiak-Borgen
Evans-Dumoulin

— Mike Benton (@Benton_Mike) December 16, 2023

Seattle is currently without forwards Andre Burakovsky and Jaden Schwartz, as well as goaltender Phillip Grubauer, with all three players currently on injured reserve. Forward Jordan Eberle has led the Kraken against LA over the last two seasons, with 10 points (3-7-10) from eight games played. The Kraken acquired forward Tomas Tatar from Colorado yesterday and he took morning skate for the hosts today.

Notes –
Seventh Heaven
Tonight’s game begins a stretch of seven consecutive games against opposition from the Pacific Division.

The Kings have only played three games within the division to date, coming against just two different opponents. Two total games against Vegas, one at home and one on the road, and an away tilt in Anaheim.

“We’ve only played three, which is actually quite alarming, I never realized that until we really dug in and took a look at it,” Todd McLellan said this morning. “That means we’ve got a lot of schedule left against opponents that can affect our standings and we can affect theirs.”

McLellan looked at the upcoming schedule more as a breakdown of four games and then three, with the NHL’s holiday break falling right in the middle.

The Kings play one-off road games versus Seattle and San Jose, followed by games at home against the Kraken and the Calgary Flames. Each of those four teams are currently chasing the Kings, who occupy the third and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division. While Seattle is nine points behind the Kings entering the night, they’re just three points out of the final wild card position. Plus, with more than 50 games left on the schedule for both clubs, there are not too many gaps that are hard to overcome. So, each game here through the end of the 2023 calendar year are games that not only earn you two points, but prevent the opposition from gaining two points.

“It’s a strange segment, because it’s going to be broken up with a break,” McLellan said. “I think we’re in a little bubble right now of four games and that’s a finish line for everybody in the league, that’s our target. We’re only going to worry about this next week or 10 days, whatever it is, and obviously play better than we did at home the other night.”

As McLellan finished with, he and the team are hopeful for a stronger performance than the other night against Winnipeg.

While the players in the room seem to be keeping things light in public spaces, McLellan senses a group that knows it is capable of more than what it delivered with on Wednesday. It’s probably a good thing to have that balance. As noted in yesterday’s feature article, the Kings have identified areas in which they believe they can be better. They’re focused on improving them and getting back on course.

“I feel or sense that we’re disappointed in our performance the other night and I think that’s important too, to acknowledge and recognize that it wasn’t where we wanted it to be,” McLellan added. “We’re pulling ourselves out of a hole right now – not a deep hole – but a rut, similar to what we had to do at the beginning of the year, it happens to all teams. The really good ones get themselves out and they straighten things out quickly.”

Kaliyev v Kraken
The Kings are set to welcome back forward Arthur Kailyev to the lineup here this evening.

Kaliyev missed a practice earlier in the week due to flu-like symptoms and did not play against the Jets on Wednesday as he worked himself back up to speed. It was the third game he’s missed this season, after he sat out the team’s first two games of the year while suspended.

In his time in the lineup this season, Kaliyev has been moved around a decent amount. He’s found a few different homes, but has not cemented a place in the lineup each and every night that has been unchanged. In speaking with McLellan this morning, he feels that Kaliyev looks energized and excited to get back into action, with the Kings expecting a strong showing from number 34.

“Consistency – He’s got a shot, it’s got to be a lot more to his game than just the shot and we’ve seen good chunks of that this year, we need to see it now,” McLellan said of Kaliyev. “He’s been obviously sick, and he looks energized and excited about playing, so I think we’re going to have a hell of a player time, we’ll count on it.”

In speaking with Kaliyev this morning, he said he feels “back to normal” now, entering tonight’s game. He did say he felt sick earlier in the week, but now he’s practiced a couple of times and he looked pretty energized and ready to go here this morning.

Looking at his body of work this season, Kaliyev has produced at right around a half-point per game, with 12 points (6-6-12) from 23 games played in total. He’s played in a variety of different places in the lineup, with a variety of different players. He’s been on Danault’s line, on Dubois’ line, on Lizotte’s line and no matter where he’s wound up, he’s done his best to play his game.

“That doesn’t change anything for me, I’m just trying to show up every game and work hard, with any line I play on,” Kaliyev said this morning. “I just try to come into every game, play hard, play my game, no matter where I play.”

Kaliyev checks back in tonight, to a lineup that’s now lost three straight games, though he was not involved in one of those three. In the three games he’s missed this season, the Kings have gone 0-2-1, but he’s been around for downswings in his career as well. Like many in the room have said, the Kings look to their leadership in moments like this and that’s exactly what the plan is for tonight.

“We have a lot of leadership, a lot of experienced guys in our room and they know that it happens throughout a season,” Kaliyev added. “We’ve just got to find a way to battle through when things aren’t going our way.”

Tonight’s game will be a Bally Sports West produced broadcast, though it will be aired on KCAL for the second time this season. Pre-game lead-in program and post-game out program will both be Kings themed, so tune in early and stay late for some Kings-related content.

Good day to get back on track, though not an easy one.