Canucks at Kings
The Los Angeles Kings look to rebound from one of their worst performances of the season as they begin a three-game stretch versus teams outside playoff contention with a matchup against the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Monday. The Kings lost for only the second time in six games Saturday after getting demolished by St. Louis 7-2 and sits one point out of third in the Pacific Division and the second wild card in the Western Conference.
“I’ll be honest with you, sometimes getting pummeled 7-2 may be easier than losing 2-1 or 3-2,” Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar told reporters. “I don’t think a whole lot needs to be said. I’m sure each and every one of us know what we got to do and we have to play harder and with a lot more emotion.” The Kings will have to find a way to beat the Canucks, who have taken two of the three meetings this season including a 6-2 setback in the latest contest Jan. 23 in Vancouver. The Canucks were shut out for the sixth time this season Sunday with a 1-0 loss at Arizona and managed only three goals in three consecutive losses. Vancouver’s veteran forward Daniel Sedin has cooled off with one point in his last four games, but boasts 15 in the last 14 contests and sits second on the team with 47 - behind only injured rookie Brock Boeser (55).
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), FS West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (25-35-9): Boeser’s back injury has probably taken away his chance to win the Calder Trophy, but the talented right wing has proved he is a cornerstone of the franchise along with center Bo Horvat. The 22-year-old Horvat, the ninth overall pick in the 2013 draft, is three short of his third straight season with 40 points and sits two goals away from equaling his career high of 20 in 2016-17. Left wing Brendan Leipsic, who was picked up from Vegas at the trade deadline, has posted two goals and four assists in his first five games with Vancouver.
ABOUT THE KINGS (37-26-5): Los Angeles, which is third in the league in goals allowed per game (2.54), was so porous defensively Saturday it prompted coach John Stevens to tell reporters, “We couldn’t check a hat.” Kopitar continues to put up solid offensive numbers with 10 of his team-high 74 points in the last seven games and right wing Dustin Brown is second with 46. Veteran forward Jeff Carter has posted four goals and two assists in seven games since returning from a 55-game absence because of an ankle injury.
OVERTIME
1. Horvat led the way with five shots on net Sunday after managing one total in the previous three contests.
2. Brown scored Saturday to reach 20 goals for the first time since 2010-11 when he notched 22.
3. The Kings are second in the league on the penalty kill (83.8) and the Canucks are 26th (77.3).