11/27 Preview – Today’s Rushes + PP Puck Movement, Anderson on Activation, Roster Moves

WHO: Los Angeles Kings (12-9-2) vs. Ottawa Senators (7-12-1)
WHAT: NHL REGULAR SEASON GAME
WHEN: Sunday, November 27 @ 7:30 PM Pacific
WHERE: Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: Bally Sports West – AUDIO – iHeart Radio – TWITTER: @DooleyLAK & @LAKings

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Kings begin a four-game homestand this evening against Ottawa, as they return to Crypto.com Arena.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Forward Anze Kopitar led the team a season ago with four points (1-3-4) from two games played, while defenseman Alex Edler also had three assists from the two games and forward Carl Grundstrom led the way with two goals.

KINGS VITALS: Following an off day yesterday, the Kings held a full-team morning skate this morning at Toyota Sports Performance Center.

Off first this morning was goaltender Jonathan Quick, who is expected to start for the second straight game, coming off of his win in San Jose. Quick has posted a 6-5-0 record throughout his career against the Senators, with a .912 save percentage and a 2.39 goals-against average. Quick posted a 34-save shutout in Ottawa last season, one of two in his career versus the Senators.

Below is a full run-through of line rushes from this morning’s skate –

Fiala – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Vilardi – Lizotte – Grundstrom
Anderson-Dolan – Kupari – Kaliyev
Andersson

Anderson – Doughty
Durzi– Roy
Edler – Walker
Clarke

Quick
Petersen

Forward Lias Andersson and defenseman Brandt Clarke have rejoined the group from AHL-Ontario, after both players featured in yesterday’s game against Tucson. Frederic Allard was also recalled later in the day. More on the roster moves below.

SENATORS VITALS: Tonight marks the final game of a four-game road trip this evening for the Senators, who are coming off a 5-1 win over Anaheim on Friday evening.

Per Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, goaltender Cam Talbot is expected to make his fourth consecutive start tonight against the Kings. Despite a 2-5-0 record on the season, Talbot has posted solid splits, with a .918 save percentage. All-time versus the Kings, Talbot is 12-9-0 with a .916 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average.

For reference, per Daniel Chisholm of OttawaSenators.com, here’s how the Senators lined up during yesterday’s practice in El Segundo –

Tkachuk – Stützle – Giroux
DeBrincat – Pinto – Batherson
Motte – Brassard – Joseph
Kelly – Kastelic – Watson
Gambrell

Chabot – Zub
Sanderson – Hamonic
Brannstrom – Holden
Thomson

Talbot / Forsberg

Ottawa defenseman Jacob Sanderson leads all rookie defensemen this season with 10 assists and 11 total points and is tied for the most assists amongst all first-year skaters. Rookie forward Shane Pinto leads all first-year players with eight goals.

Notes –
PPPuck Movement
“It can be argued on any given night which is one and which is two and the way we have it structured right now, the guys that are rested are usually the ones that are starting. Traditionally, it’s just been okay Kopi, let’s go, and he could be exhausted and we feel it. Now, we’ve been able to put two units together where okay, Kopi is tired, Drew, you’ve been out a lot, let’s get a breather and put the other unit out or vice versa. I think that’s allowed us to start fresher than maybe we have in the past.”

That was Todd McLellan talking this morning about his two power-play units, not necessarily naming one as the top unit over the other. His top forward line typically plays together on a unit that has had its ups and downs but hasn’t quite found its rhythm consistently early in the season. The other unit – consisting of the second line, along with Arthur Kaliyev and Sean Durzi – has been humming as of late.

After Durzi missed two games, he returned to the lineup in San Jose and that unit scored a power-play goal, with Viktor Arvidsson setting up Phillip Danault. It’s frequently been Kaliyev on the other end of the goals, but their success has traditionally come from puck movement amongst all members. McLellan took note of that this morning.

“Their puck movement is quick,” he said. “They’re obviously confident, but their puck movement is quick, there’s an intensity to their group and I think the pace at which they’re playing allows them to create some opportunities off of those passes. You’re either ahead or you’re behind on the powerplay. If you’re behind, you’re probably going to be frustrated and if you’re ahead, you’re probably creating chances and what I mean by that is the pace of play and attacking the other team’s mistakes or weaknesses.”

In speaking with Arvidsson and Kaliyev individually, both used that word – quick – or a synonym.

The puck movement was evident in San Jose and they were a post away, with Durzi the shooter on this occasion, from scoring even earlier in the game. Danault was the ultimate finisher, but it could have come sooner.

Kaliyev – It’s awesome, we have the perfect combination of everything that we need. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of it, we’ve been making great plays and moving the puck fast and getting good shots off, everything.

Arvidsson – With [our unit], we just try to make plays and play quickly and when we see plays that are open, we try to hit it. [On Friday], we found a way, so that was good.

Magic Mikey
It was a play that appeared to be a dazzling assist for Mikey Anderson.

Realizing the situation in the offensive zone, less than a minute into the game with Kevin Fiala in full control high in the offensive zone, Anderson activated from his position at the left point, working his way into the slot. When Fiala hit him with the pass, Anderson found himself in a 2-on-1 in tight. Rather than force a pass, or take a lower-percentage shot, he made a power move onto his forehand to create a better angle, before he set up Adrian Kempe for a one-timer at the back post, the perfect start. Until it wasn’t. The goal was called back for a missed offsides at the start of the sequence, negating the excellent offensive instincts Anderson had shown, at least from a reward standpoint.

“On a play like that, I know that Kevin can see things like that happen, so it’s trusting him to make a read or find a spot,” he said this morning. “Obviously it was a good play by him, tough that it got called back.”

While it’s not perhaps just as of late, Anderson has felt he’s tried to add offensive activation into his game more this season, even if it’s not his calling card. As a shutdown defenseman, defending and keeping pucks out of his net are what he’s relied upon to do. Playing in the role that he does here, frequently seeing other team’s top offensive players, it’s what the Kings are expecting from him first and foremost.

As a whole, though, the Kings entered the season looking for more offensively from the backend. Anderson has felt more comfortable this season with when to pick and choose his spots, which has perhaps led to it being more noticeable.

“Yeah, I’m trying to add more of that to my game,” he added. “I’m feeling more comfortable with picking and choosing the spots to do it and obviously it helps when our forwards are helping to cover and take care of us.”

Todd McLellan didn’t necessarily believe that Anderson has activated more this season, but admitted he doesn’t see him shy away from taking the chance when he sees it. He’s not the highest-volume offensive activator, but he goes when he goes.

“I think he always has, it’s just not as much as maybe other guys,” McLellan said. “He values the the shutdown role so much that sometimes those guys stay home a little bit more than others that are higher risk takers, but when he sees it, he goes, he does jump in.”

Roster Moves
Lastly, Insiders, three roster moves here on game day.

The Kings recalled forward Lias Andersson, as well as and defensemen Brandt Clarke and Frederic Allard from AHL-Ontario.

The first two moves came before morning skate, while Allard’s recall came after. Line rushes, as noted above, did not appear to constitute any changes from what we saw in San Jose, but as always we wait for warmups to see for sure. I noticed Clarke on late after morning skate for sure, typically a sign of a scratched player.

For Andersson, it’s his third recall of the season from Ontario, though he has yet to appear in an NHL game with the Kings this season. Andersson played yesterday with the Reign, his 12th AHL game of the season, with nine total points (5-4-9).

Clarke wrapped up his 14-day conditioning loan with the AHL club with his fifth game played yesterday evening and is no longer eligible to play in the AHL. The 19-year-old defenseman tallied two points (1-1-2) from five games played, including his first career professional goal in a win over San Jose.

Allard has yet to play in an NHL game with the Kings and has one assist from five AHL games played, as he’s returned to action from an early-season, upper-body injury. Will see if anything comes from these moves as the team takes the ice later on tonight.

Kings and Senators, 7:30 PM from Los Angeles. Good to be home, Insiders, see you there!