Kings at Canucks
Goals likely will be at a premium on Tuesday as the Los Angeles Kings open a four-game road trip versus the Pacific Division-rival Vancouver Canucks. Los Angeles mustered just 11 goals during its season-high six-game winless skid before erupting in Sunday's 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers while Vancouver was shut out for the fourth time on the same day.
"We have to put ourselves in a situation where we have some more (offensive) zone time. There was better (offensive) structure, for sure. But from that structure, we have to create more offense," Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said after a 1-0 loss to Winnipeg dropped the club to 4-13-2 in its last 19 games. Sedin started Vancouver's seven-game road trip with a flourish, setting up six of his team-leading 30 assists before being held in check over the final two contests. The Swede collected a goal and an assist in Vancouver's 3-2 triumph over Los Angeles, but the Kings evened the season series with a 4-3 win on Dec. 30. Trevor Lewis notched a pair of assists in the latter contest and scored a goal against the Rangers.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE KINGS (25-17-5): Captain Anze Kopitar, who leads the team in assists (30) and points (48), posted an assist for the third straight contest and has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last eight games. The 30-year-old Slovene scored in Los Angeles' first meeting versus Vancouver and has 40 points (12 goals, 28 assists) in 47 career meetings with the club. Kopitar's 18 goals are tied for club-best honors with Tyler Toffoli, who has been held off the scoresheet in each of his last five games but collected a goal and two assists in the last encounter with the Canucks.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (18-23-6): Bo Horvat took a positive outlook after logging 19:05 of ice time on Sunday in his first contest since missing 18 games with a broken foot. "It took me a little bit to get going, get my legs under me and my timing back, but as the game went on I felt it got better and better. Obviously not the result we wanted, but it's a step in the right direction," the 22-year-old said. Anders Nilsson still is in search of his first win since Nov. 30 despite making 35 saves on Sunday, but he turned aside 30 shots to pick up the victory in the October meeting versus Los Angeles.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles D Jake Muzzin has recorded a point in each of his last five games (one goal, four assists).
2. Vancouver F Michael Chaput was placed on waivers after failing to record a point in nine games with the team this season.
3. The Kings traded G Jeff Zatkoff to Columbus on Monday in exchange for future considerations.