Blackhawks at Kings
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Kings are sitting on the Western Conference bubble due to an offense that ranks last in the NHL in scoring. The Kings are hoping Jeff Carter can change all that. Los Angeles made the first big move of the trading season, exchanging defense for offense by sending defenseman Jack Johnson and a first-round draft pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Carter. Carter will make his Kings debut against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. The Blackhawks had a four-game winning streak snapped on Thursday and will again be without captain Jonathan Toews.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSCH (Chicago), FSW (Los Angeles), NHL Network
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (33-22-7): Toews has missed two straight games with an upper-body injury and the Chicago offense has suffered accordingly. The Blackhawks pulled out a 2-1 win against Detroit on Tuesday but allowed three third-period tallies in a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday. Chicago had put up 13 goals in the three previous games. The Blackhawks have developed a tendency to endure long losing streaks this season, with four different slides of at least three games - including a nine-game skid from Jan. 21 to Feb. 14.
ABOUT THE KINGS (27-22-12): Los Angeles has lost four straight and eight of its last 10 games, with the offense producing one goal or less in seven of those setbacks. Carter, who has 25 points - 15 goals - in 39 games this season, should help. The veteran center has scored at least 30 goals in three different seasons and will be reunited with former Philadelphia teammate Mike Richards. The Kings have split two meetings with the Blackhawks this season. Jonathan Quick recorded a shutout at Chicago on Dec. 28.
OVERTIME:
1. The Blackhawks have won seven of the last eight meetings, including four straight in Los Angeles.
2. Toews did not make the trip with the team to Southern California and will miss at least two more games.
3. Los Angeles signed D Willie Mitchell to a two-year extension on Friday.