Blue Jackets at Kings
The Los Angeles Kings wrap up their six-game homestand by hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. The Kings are one of the hottest teams in the league with five straight wins and can complete a sweep of the stretch versus Columbus, which is finishing a California road trip. The Blue Jackets are coming off a 4-1 loss to the red-hot Anaheim Ducks on Friday after posting a 5-4 victory over the San Jose Sharks the previous night.
The Kings have won seven of nine home games against Columbus since the start of the 2009-10 season, including the last four meetings. Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky is struggling in California, with seven goals allowed on 70 shots in the last two games. Jonathan Quick is expected to start for Los Angeles, which will embark on an Eastern Conference road trip after the contest.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports West
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (4-3-0): Cam Atkinson will miss Sunday's contest after suffering a scary injury when the skate of Ducks forward Ryan Kesler hit him near the right eye. Defenseman Ryan Murray has yet to return from a knee injury despite traveling with the team. Ryan Johansen leads the club with 10 points and has at least a point in every game.
ABOUT THE KINGS (5-1-1): Quick has yielded two goals over his last four starts after beginning the season with seven goals allowed in his first two appearances. The line of Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson is leading the offense, combining for 12 of the team’s 16 goals. Marian Gaborik was able to skate on Saturday but remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles was 21-8-3 against Eastern Conference teams in 2013-14.
2. Columbus D Jack Johnson, who began his career with the Kings, leads the team in ice time with 24:19 per game.
3. Los Angeles D Slava Voynov remains suspended indefinitely due to domestic violence charges.