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12/29 Preview – Byfield’s Play Right on Q + No Skate Today, Back-To-Backs, WJC Update

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WHO: Los Angeles Kings (20-10-5) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (16-16-4)
WHAT: 2024-25 Regular-Season Game
WHEN: Sunday, December 29 @ 6:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: Fan Duel Sports Network – AUDIO – ESPN LA App – TWITTER: @dooleylak & @lakings

TODAY’S MATCHUP: The Kings conclude a back-to-back set this evening against Philadelphia, as they take on the Flyers for the second time in 11 days.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Forwards Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala led the way for the Kings with two goals apiece when these teams met in Philadelphia earlier this month.

12 Kings had a point in that game and six had multi-point evenings, with forward Warren Foegele collecting a goal and an assist, while Alex Laferriere, Vladislav Gavrikov and Jordan Spence each tallied two helpers in the victory.

KINGS VITALS: With the back-to-back, the Kings did not hold a morning skate today.

With goaltender Darcy Kuemper playing yesterday against Edmonton, expect goaltender David Rittich to get the start this evening versus the Flyers. Rittich brings a lifetime record of 5-0-0 against Philadelphia, with a .932 save percentage and a 1.95 goals-against average.

For reference, here’s how the Kings lined up during yesterday’s practice –

The Kings went 11/7 yesterday against the Oilers and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the same alignment today. If they look to make a change, I’d expect it to be in the form of forward Andre Lee coming in up front to give the Kings 12 forwards.

Forward Arthur Kaliyev and defenseman Andreas Englund are also available, if the Kings sought further changes, but Lee feels like the option if the Kings do opt for a change.

FLYERS VITALS: Similar to the Kings, the Flyers are also completing a back-to-back, having defeated the Anaheim Ducks yesterday at Honda Center.

Per Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer, here’s how the Flyers lined up yesterday in Anaheim –

Flyers forward Tyson Foerster had a hand in all three Flyers goals against the Kings when these teams met earlier this month, scoring twice and adding an assist, along with a +3 rating. In total, Foerster has six points (3-3-6) over his last five games played.

Storyline Of The Day – Right On Q
Quinton Byfield talked about the win over the Rangers earlier this month as a turning point for him.

Including that game, Byfield has five goals and seven points over his last six games, bolstered by a two-goal performance in yesterday’s win over Edmonton, including the overtime game-winning goal. In adding an assist, it was Byfield first three-point game of the season and his first since February 10, also coming against Edmonton here in Los Angeles.

“Probably since the Rangers game, when I put one by Shesterkin, it just feels like I can beat goalies again,” Byfield said.

Including that game, no player in the NHL has scored more even-strength goals than Byfield.

If you look at his goals in that span, you’d see that four of the five were shots that beat goaltenders clean, starting with the goal he mentioned against New York. A week later in Nashville, Byfield hammered a shot from the slot off the post and in and beat Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner twice last night with his shot. The overtime game winner was particularly impressive and I’m not sure it’s a shot he even takes earlier this season.

There it is. He made an assertive move onto his forehand, working his way into some space in the slot. Sometimes, it’s just shooter against goaltender. Byfield trusted his shot, picked his spot on the glove side and beat Skinner clean with a shot for his first career overtime game winner. It’s a play he admitted he probably wouldn’t have shot on even 15 games ago.

“I’m just kind of finding it back again, I’m confident with the puck, taking guys on 1-on-1, using my speed,” he said. “I kind of just came back to that and it’s started working.”

It’s looking like the Byfield was saw during training camp this fall. The Byfield who appeared set to take the step from breakout play to star player. He was the best player on the team during preseason games but the production didn’t quite translate into the regular season. By his own admission, Byfield felt very confident heading into the season but when he had a few games that weren’t his best, it was hard to bring himself back up.

As Jim Hiller detailed, every player has those ups and downs, but sometimes it takes a veteran to not get wrapped up in it. Something that will come for Byfield. Right now it’s a high, with Hiller calling Byfield the team’s best player in Washington before the break, which followed a really strong showing against Nashville the game before. Now it’s three in a row. It’s not going to be 50 in a row, though, so at some point, Byfield’s level will drop off a bit and he’ll have to find his way back to level. As he gets more and more experience with the ups and downs of the NHL, those stretches should become smaller and smaller, as they are for Anze Kopitar and as they’ve become, with time, for Adrian Kempe.

If Byfield can continue to find that level, it just unlocks another level for the Kings as a team. Honestly, it’s essential to that being possible. The Kings need to be a team with three lines playing at a Top-6 level. With the way Byfield’s line has come together with Warren Foegele and Tanner Jeannot, you can see that possibility. Same goes for Phillip Danault between Kevin Fiala and Alex Laferriere. When there are three lines playing at that level, the Kings can exploit matchups the way they did yesterday. Neither Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl were on the ice for a goal against. They can’t play the entire game. Byfield’s line exploited the matchup they had and, when things are clicking, that’s a recipe for Kings success.

While Philadelphia is a different challenge, built more like the Kings without the star power but with a lot of younger players throughout their lineup, it’s the same focus for Byfield. Keep it up at that level and the production will continue to be there.

3 To Watch For –
– Double back-to-back today.

Both teams played yesterday afternoon, with the Kings winning at home and the Flyers defeating the Ducks on the road. With matching 1 PM puck drops, no real advantage there, with both teams having the chance to get a full night of sleep without much travel between Anaheim and Los Angeles.

Thus far this season, the Kings have been one of the NHL’s most successful teams on the second half of back-to-backs, at 4-1-0, while the Flyers have been one of the least at 1-5-0. Only Boston has collected more points on a per-game basis this season than the Kings in these situations, with another good opportunity tonight to add to that total.

– Today’s game is Game 2 of 5 on this current five-game homestand. It’s not technically the longest homestand of the season, but the six-game homestand in February is broken up by a two-week break for the 4 Nations Faceofff. So, this feels like the longest one the Kings have.

The Kings are 11-2-1 at home this season, good for a .821 winning percentage that trails only Vegas in the league standings. Great to have these games at home and, if the Kings can take advantage, an opportunity to bank points.

“It’s an advantage if you win them,” Hiller said. “Historically, most teams’ home records are better than their road records. We’ve played particularly well in our building, in front of our fans, so I’m happy that we have the least amount of home games thus far. We’ll make them up, but we’ve got to play well and win them.”

The Kings have played just the 14 times at home, fewest in the NHL to date. A good opportunity, despite difficult competition upcoming, to make the most of an extended stretch at home.

– Lastly, a quick World Juniors update.

Goaltender Carter George posted a 31-save shutout in his World Juniors Championships debut with Team Canada, a 4-0 victory over Finland in the opening game of the tournament. The 31 saves in total included 20 during a third period in which Finland surged. Big-game player, with the “it factor” is how George has been described by evaluators both inside and outside the organization.

Hampton Slukynsky won his tournament debut for the United States, a 5-1 win over Latvia. Slukynsky made 25 saves on 26 shots, denying the Latvian’s their second consecutive upset victory.

Add onto the goaltending a first goal of the tournament for Kings defensive prospect Jakub Dvorak for Team Czechia, which improved to 2-0 thus far, and you’ve got quite the start. Dvorak is +4 from wins over Switzerland and Kazakhstan.

Good start on all three fronts.

For the big club, Kings and Flyers, final game of 2024!

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