Devils at Kings
The Los Angeles Kings may be standing tall with a 21-9-1 mark against Eastern Conference representatives this season, but the New Jersey Devils knocked Jonathan Quick to the canvas with a decisive decision in December. Quick and company aim for retribution on Saturday when the Kings host the Devils at Staples Center.
Quick has turned aside 55 of 56 shots to win back-to-back games and boasts a 2.14 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in his last 15 contests overall. The 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy recipient had a much tougher time of it against the Devils, permitting a season-high five goals on 26 shots in a 5-1 setback on Dec. 12. Taylor Hall tallied twice in that tilt and has recorded at least one point in 27 of his last 29 games (19 goals, 21 assists) for New Jersey, which is 9-6-0 in its last 15 to cling to the final wild-card spot in the East. The top overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft continued his torrid stretch with a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 8-3 romp over Vegas.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus (New Jersey), FS West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE DEVILS (36-26-8): Blake Coleman had just one goal in his previous 18 contests before scoring twice for the first time in his career in the victory versus the Golden Knights. "He was an engine for us. He's another guy, I think he's played some really good hockey here the last couple weeks," New Jersey coach John Hynes told NJ.com of the 26-year-old. "Probably could have a couple more goals than he's had, but he's played the game the right way." Travis Zajac scored for his third goal in three games on Wednesday and also tallied in the first encounter versus the Kings.
ABOUT THE KINGS (39-26-6): While Hall has inserted his name into the Hart Trophy discussion, coach John Stevens was quick to add captain Anze Kopitar as a candidate as well. "Who's more important to another team in the league than he is to ours?" Stevens said of the 30-year-old Slovene. "... He provides leadership for our team. He produces offensively. He's a premier penalty killer in the league, a faceoff guy, a power guy, a skill guy. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be in that conversation." Kopitar highlighted his six-game point streak (two goals, eight assists) with a dominating effort in Thursday's 4-1 victory versus Detroit, scoring one goal and setting up three others to surpass 50 assists in a season for the first time since 2011-12.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles D Drew Doughty has scored one goal and set up six others during his four-game point streak and sits one point shy of his career high of 43, set in 2009-10.
2. New Jersey C Pavel Zacha sat out practice with an upper-body injury on Friday and is in line to miss his fourth consecutive contest.
3. Kings D Jake Muzzin had a soft wrap around his left thumb in practice on Friday, leaving his availability versus the Devils in question.