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3/14 Preview – Kopitar Chasing Greatness + Volume vs. Quality, Goaltending Splits, Busy Slate Out West

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WHO: Los Angeles Kings (27-23-15) @ New Jersey Devils (32-31-2)
WHAT: 2025-26 Regular-Season Game 65/82
WHEN: Saturday, March 14 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: FanDuel Sports Network – AUDIO – ESPN LA App & LA Kings App – TWITTER: @dooleylak & @lakings

TODAY’S MATCHUP: The Kings are right back at it tonight in New Jersey, as they conclude a back-to-back set against the Devils this evening.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Forward Artemi Panarin has nine points (4-5-9) over his last eight games played versus New Jersey, coming over the last three seasons as a member of the New York Rangers. Defenseman Brian Dumoulin will return to New Jersey tonight after he joined the Devils at last season’s trade deadline, leading the team in time on ice during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

KINGS VITALS: After yesterday’s game versus the Islanders, the Kings did not hold a morning skate in advance of tonight’s game in New Jersey.

Goaltender Darcy Kuemper collected the victory yesterday against the Islanders, so I would expect goaltender Anton Forsberg would get the start tonight versus the Devils. Forsberg is in line to make his 11th career appearance versus New Jersey, tying his most against any opponent. He has a 3-3-1 record lifetime, with a .903 save percentage and a 3.17 goals-against average.

For reference, here is how the Kings lined up on Tuesday in Boston, with no changes expected for tonight’s game –

Not expecting any lineup changes today as of now, but we’ll hear from Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith at the arena in advance of tonight’s game. Forward Mathieu Joseph and defenseman Jacob Moverare are optios to check in should there be any alterrations.

DEVILS VITALS: New Jersey is currently on a season-long, seven-game homestand, with a record of 3-2-0 until this point, with one final game remaining after today’s matchup with the Kings.

Per Amanda Stein of NewJerseyDevils.com, here’s how the hosts lined up last time out versus Calgary –

Forward Dawson Mercer scored twice when these teams met in Los Angeles back in November, while goaltender Jacob Markstrom made a season-high 43 saves in the 4-1 Devils win. Mercer has a team-best four goals in his last six games played against the Kings.

Storyline Of The Day – Chasing Greatness
The record-setting moment!

Last night against the Islanders, Anze Kopitar scored in the first period to set the Kings all-time franchise record for most road points, as he surpassed Marcel Dionne. Kopitar now has 608 road points (221-387-608) in his career, one clear of Dionne.

Wait, that’s not the one you wanted?

Ahhhh okay.

Well, I suppose there’s another mark within reach.

As Kopitar and the Kings hit the ice later today, he sits one point away from tying Dionne for the most points in franchise history. He’ll sit level with Dionne when he collects his next point and needs two points to take sole possession of the record.

“It’s pretty incredible,” defenseman Mikey Anderson said. “Everyone here is fortunate enough to get to know him, the family, learn from him. He means so much to the organization, the city of LA. He’s chasing it down and everyone is rallying with him and excited for him, his family. He’s getting the recognition he deserves.”

For a player who has continued to deliver throughout every inch of the ice, it’s a record that will be that much more special as a result.

If the Kings played different systems throughout Kopitar’s career, it probably would not be in the preview story for tonight’s game. He’d probably have hit this record some time ago. That he’s here anyways, despite playing in a defensive system, logging challenging defensive matchups, killing penalties and taking defensive-zone faceoffs, it says that much more about the player he is and has always been.

“I’m sure if he played in a more offensive system throughout his career, he’d probably have had a couple 100-point seasons,” forward Alex Turcotte said of Kopitar. “He’s about the team first, he plays the right way and it’s incredible that he can produce like that, while playing the right way.”

As the Kings continue to work to turn their season around, Kopitar’s play of late has been a big reason as to why.

He’s got five points in six games under Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith and that continues on a couple of assists prior to that. All-in-all, it’s seven points (2-5-7) over his last ten games, which has brought him up to this mark. As Kopitar has gone, the Kings have followed. He’s looked back to his best over this last set of games and the Kings have felt a renewed confidence alongside it.

Kopitar’s pursuit of the record has gone alongside the Kings push for the postseason. A hand-in-hand marriage, benefitting all parties involved.

“He understands how to play the game, he’s the leader of this group and he’s played really well, he continues to push,” Smith added. “We have a goal of continuing to push and win games here, give ourselves a chance to get int the playoffs. He’s been a big reason.”

Could tonight be the night? With the way Kopitar has played of late, between dynamic wingers Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe, you certainly shouldn’t put it past him.

Whether it’s tonight, Monday in New York or perhaps a little further down the road, it’ll be a special moment for a special player and person. An exciting pursuit of greatness we’re all fortunate to be watching.

3 To Watch For –
– When these teams met in Los Angeles back in November, the Kings had a ton of volume, but not enough quality.

The team set multiple season highs in that game that still stand to this day, including 94 shot attempts and 44 shots on goal. The 94 shot attempts are the fourth-most in an NHL game this season by any team, second most in a game that ended within the regularly-scheduled 60 minutes.

And yet the Kings lost 4-1. What they didn’t have as much of in that game was the high-danger looks, at least proportionate to the attempts. Finishing with 3.91 expected goals, that was the 17th highest total of the season thus far. The Kings controlled that game, no doubt about it. But when you compare it to say yesterday’s game on Long Island, the Kings had 33 fewer shot attempts and 17 fewer shots on goal. But they posted an xGF of 4.24, indicative of the quality looks they had.

On top of three first period goals, the Kings were dangerous on the power play. They had breakaways from their two best offensive players in Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe, who were denied by strong saves from New York goaltender Ilya Sorokin. They hit a post, as Quinton Byfield nearly buried one from the slot. There wasn’t quite the same volume and ultimately, none of those situations resulted in goals. One more goal, in any of those scenarios, probably blew last night’s game open.

Finding that nice mix between the two games probably gets you a result tonight. You want to be in control of the puck and volume is good. But the quality looks are important also. See if the Kings can find that balance in Newark.

– Last night, Darcy Kuemper got the start and earned the win. Tonight, it’ll likely be Anton Forsberg.

The Kings opened this trip with a back-to-back, two days off, another back-to-back. Four games in six nights, though it’s a 4-in-6 that likely requires a full split in net, with the days off being stacked. The first set, they started with Anton Forsberg who was excellent early to keep the game close. Kuemper closed it out with a good showing in Boston. This time, the Kings swapped the order. Kuemper played against the Islanders and was good, allowing only two deflection goals. Now it’s likely Forsberg’s turn.

With 17 games in 33 days to close out the season and four sets of back-to-backs, including tonight, the Kings will need their depth. That includes the goaltenders.

“Every game is so important right now and with the back-to-backs, you need everybody going,” Kuemper said. “We’ve put a big emphasis on all four lines, making sure that everyone’s involved and playing. I think the more guys you get going, the better off the team is.”

The Kings have been fairly successful in back-to-back sets this season, with goaltending a big reason as to why they’ve earned points in a few of those second games. Assuming he does start, Forsberg will be important tonight, against a team that is better rested, setting up the trip finale on Monday against the New York Rangers.

– A look at the playoff picture shows another busy night, Kings included.

With yesterday’s win, the kings moved back into a playoff position for the first time in six weeks. The last time the Kings were in that position was February 1. As the Kings head to New Jersey today, they sit one point inside the playoff line as the second wild card team.

The Kings are obviously in action. San Jose and Seattle, which sit one and two points behind, respectively, are both in action as well. San Jose visits Montreal while Seattle is in Vancouver. Of the teams directly in front of Los Angeles, Edmonton is idle after losing in overtime yesterday in St. Louis, but Utah hosts Pittsburgh, Vegas hosts Chicago and Anaheim is away against Montreal. A busy slate, as 28 of the NHL’s 32 teams are in action.

Unlikely we’ll see the Kings win a tiebreaker against any team, so remaining ahead on points is important. A tie likely means losing out. So, a big two points on the line here for the Kings, with several others games of interest around the league as well. A Kings win and they’ll hold onto their spot. Busy slate on the docket!

Kings and Devils, two more points on the line tonight for Los Angeles, as it looks to keep recent momentum rolling forward. 4 PM puck drop in Newark!

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