Canucks at Kings
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Kings finally found a way to get their offense going on Tuesday night. By doing so, the Kings snapped a pesky five-game losing streak with a 4-3 home win over the Nashville Predators. The four goals doubled their high mark during the skid. For a team that boasts the likes of Mike Richards, Simon Gagne and Anze Kopitar, the Kings have been strangely lacking on offense so far - totaling more than three goals just three times in 15 games. Los Angeles has been able to get by with a strong defense, which will get a test on Thursday when it hosts the Vancouver Canucks. The defending Western Conference champs have been wildly inconsistent but can light up the scoreboard with the best of them. The Canucks scored five power-play goals in a 6-2 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, RSNV (Vancouver), FSW (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (7-7-1): Vancouver went from a 3-0 loss to a 7-4 win to close out October. It then started a six-game road trip at Calgary with a 5-1 win before falling in back-to-back games by a combined score of 8-3. The Canucks have yet to win or lose more than two in a row. The goaltending from Vezina Trophy finalist Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider has been spotty enough that Vancouver has earned only two wins when scoring less than four goals.
ABOUT THE KINGS (7-5-3): Los Angeles is fifth in the league in goals against but just 25th in scoring, leading to eight one-goal games. Three of its five recent losses were of the one-goal variety, with two going past regulation. Defenseman Drew Doughty recorded his first goal of the season against Nashville. Doughty’s tally was a welcomed sight, as the blue-liner has been slow to get involved in the Kings offense recently.
OVERTIME:
1. Dustin Penner recorded a pair of assists for the Kings on Tuesday, snapping a nine-game scoreless streak.
2. David Booth scored his first goal on Sunday in seven games since being traded to the Canucks last month.
3. The teams split four meetings last season.