The LA Kings return home for a crucial game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night. Todd McLellan’s squad has just six games remaining in the regular season, and every game is against non-playoff teams. It’s time to take care of business.
Here’s how the Kings and Blue Jackets match up on paper:
Top scorers:
LAK: Anze Kopitar – 18 goals, 44 assists, 62 points
CBJ: Patrik Laine – 26 goals, 30 assists, 56 points
Betting odds
The Kings come into this one as favorites, according to our sponsors at DraftKings.
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- Kings odds: -195
- Blue Jacket Ratings: +160
- Over/Under: 6.5
- Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
- Broadcast Info: BSW, BSOH, ESPN+
Projected compositions
Here’s how the Kings lined up in practice Friday, via LA Kings Insider:
Athanasiou–Kopitar–Kempe
Moore-Danault-Arvidsson
Iafallo – Lizotte – Brown
Lemieux–Kaliyev–Kupari–Grundström
Vilardi–Byfield–Andersson
Edler Roy
Moverare – Durzi
Maatta Spence
Bjornfot–Stecher–Strand
Rapid / Petersen
It should be noted that Quinton Byfield and Gabe Vilardi wore purple jerseys on Friday, setting them up to be healthy scratches on Saturday night.
Andreas Athanasiou ditched the red jersey with no contact and was skating on the front row with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. When healthy, the 27-year-old has been a big contributor on offense, with 14 points in just 22 games. Prior to his injury, Athanasiou had scored four goals in his last three games. The Kings could use someone to step up offensively – Athanasiou could be that guy if he drops back in the lineup.
The situation for goalkeepers is difficult to predict. After Wednesday’s disaster in Colorado, where Jonathan Quick dropped the top three and Cal Petersen dropped the next six, there doesn’t seem to be a clear direction as to who might get the go-ahead.
That said, Quick got the start in the last game, stopping 26 of 29 shots. Could McLellan rely on the old guard in these desperate times? He was the first off the ice on Friday, which could lead him to the start.
“At this time of year, I’d rather someone get really hot around this time,” McLellan told Zach Dooley. “That’s what I would prefer. I don’t think in training camp you can sit back and say this guy is going to play that many games. Not where we started as an organization either, we need to grow, but right now warm up and play.
Here’s how the Blue Jackets lined up in Wednesday’s 5-1 win over Montreal:
Projected lines 👊
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 13, 2022
Speaking of lines, we can’t wait to see the 5th line tonight!!!@BlueTech_Inc | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/MY5xtcrEDO
Both Kent Johnson and Nick Blankenburg made their NHL debuts in the contest, with the latter picking up his first point on Cole Sillinger’s 13th goal of the year.
Kent Johnson and Nick Blankenburg are in their first shifts in the NHL. Welcome to the show, guys. #CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) April 13, 2022
Patrik Laine was involved in the first three goals and he scored in the final game. In addition to Laine, the Blue Jackets have Sillinger, who impressed during his rookie campaign, as well as Jack Roslovic, who has five goals and six points in his last two games.
The Kings will likely see Elvis Merzlikins in this one. He made some big saves last game, stopping 39 of 43 total shots.
It’s a game the Kings absolutely must win. With Vegas playing Edmonton on Saturday, a win for LA and a regulation loss for the Golden Knights would create a still slim three-point split in the standings.
The LA Kings and Jackets start at 7:30 p.m. PT.
(Main photo credit: NHL.com)