Canucks vs. Kings Game Day: Defusing the ticking time bomb in L.A. ...
The Kings won three of four games against the Canucks last season and lit it up in 6-3 and 5-1 victories to send a potency message.
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Published Nov 07, 2024 • Last updated 9 hours ago • 4 minute read
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When/where: Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Crypto.com Arena
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
The buzz: The Kings are like a ticking time bomb.
You never know when it’s going to go off, but when it does, it’s often quite an explosion.
L.A. doesn’t have a player in the top 25 of league scoring, but the Pacific Division front-runners sport a potent top line. Occasional outbursts from that trio are a cautionary tale for the Canucks, who are looking to sweep another road trip Thursday to cap a three-game sojourn.
The Kings scored five-straight goals Tuesday in Minnesota in a 5-1 triumph to improve to 8-3-3, and have won five of their last seven games (5-1-1). Even though they are ranked 12th in goals per game (3.36) and 21st on the power play (17 per cent), they have already had performances where they’ve put up six and seven goals respectively.
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However, their packed and perplexing power play has gone 0-for-4 in each of the last for games and is in an 0-for-14 funk. Then again, the Kings won three of four games against the Canucks last season, and lit it up in 6-3 and 5-1 victories to send a potency message.
The Canucks hope to build on strong team game Tuesday in a 5-1 win at Anaheim that stretched their road mark to 5-1-0 and overall record to 6-2-3.
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The Canucks worked the walls better, got pucks out of their zone at speed, moved smartly through the neutral zone, and found open linemates at pace. That alone will help help curtail the Kings, and so will another strong presence in the face-off circle.
“I always love division games,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said Thursday following an optional game-day skate. “It makes you concentrate more and get to your game quicker. It’s a big test for us.”
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Especially after doing the work in practice to win the first two stops on this trip.
“I liked the gapping of our defence with the forwards and our connection there,” added Tocchet. “Probably one of our better games with the connection of the five. You can control the game better and it was good group management.
“Guys are really receptive.”
Goalie Kevin Lankinen can steal games. He denied Brock McGinn of the Ducks on Tuesday in Anaheim. Photo by Sean M. Haffey /Getty ImagesJ.T. Miller went 18-for-25 (72 per cent) on faceoffs against the Ducks and is ranked eighth overall at 60.7 per cent efficiency. He will be tested Thursday because Anže Kopitar has won 47 of 83 draws (56.6 per cent) on home ice.
Canucks winger Dakota Joshua had a scheduled off day Tuesday in his ongoing preparation to return from testicular cancer and didn’t practise Wednesday. The big forward is not expected to play Thursday, but might be a lineup option when the Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, although his readiness remains a day-to-day progression.
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Canucks defenceman Derek Forbort was not on the ice for a second-straight day after getting tangled up in practice Monday and appearing to suffer a leg injury. He has been medically evaluated, but the club didn’t release a timeline for recovery until Wednesday. Tocchet said Forbort’s status is now a week-to-week recovery.
Defenceman Erik Brannstrom will play this ninth game Thursday and after 10, he’s no longer waiver exempt.
Thatcher Demko was also on the ice Wednesday. The Canucks goaltender went through an individual session before practice in his ongoing preparation recovery from a knee injury.
The history: The Canucks had their hands full in last season’s series with the Kings and were outscored 15-8. They were hammered 5-1 at home on Feb. 29 as Drew Doughty, Kopitar and Kevin Fiala each had three points. On March 5 on the road, Miller had the overtime winner in a 2-1 win, but the Kings won 3-2 at Rogers Arena on March 25 and 6-3 at home on April 6. Brock Boeser had three goals in the four games.
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The hope: The very visible Elias Pettersson picks up in L.A. where he left off in Anaheim. Scored a greasy tip goal after setting a screen for Quinn Hughes and after his Grade-A scoring chance denied in tight. Much more engaged. Finished with five shots, eight attempts.
The fear: The Kings’ top line gains early traction. Kopitar, Fiala and Andre Kempe have combined for 17 goals and 39 points. Kopitar has 15 points (5-10) and three game-winners. Fiala has 12 points (7-5) and four power-play goals. Kempe has 12 points (5-7).
The top guns: Hughes has 10 points (2-8) in the last eight games and leads the club with 12 points (2-10). Boeser has a team-high six goals to go with 11 points, while Miller (4-6) and Conor Garland (3-7) have 10 points apiece.
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The wounded: Canucks: Thatcher Demko (knee, IR), Dakota Joshua (testicular cancer, IR, day-to-day), Derek Forbort (leg, week-to-week). Kings: Drew Doughty (ankle fracture, IR), Alex Turcotte (undisclosed, day-to-day).
The quote: “Odd-man rushes have been a problem and when we limited them that really helped.” — Rick Tocchet on 5-1 victory in Anaheim on Tuesday.
The lineup:
DeBrusk-Miller-Boeser
Suter-Pettersson-Garland
Heinen-Blueger-Sherwood
Hoglander-Raty-Sprong
Hughes-Hronek
Soucy-Myers
Brannstrom-Desharnais
Lankinen
The prediction: The Canucks prevail in a special-teams battle and Lankinen holds the fort in a 4-3 triumph.
(FAN FORUM: Do you have a specific question for a player? Pass it along to @provincesports and we’ll get it in a future edition.)
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