Kings at Canucks
The Los Angeles Kings are treading water heading into the final portion of their extended stretch away from Tinseltown while the Vancouver Canucks are dipping in the Pacific Division following six losses in their last eight outings. The Kings carry a 3-2-2 mark into the final two contests of their nine-game road trip, beginning Wednesday with a trip to British Columbia.
Second Star of the Week Jeff Carter has erupted for five goals in his last three games and nine in December to increase his team-leading total to 19 - 11 more than his closest teammate (Tyler Toffoli). Former captain Dustin Brown is enjoying a strong offensive surge by his standards, scoring one goal and setting up five others in his last 11 games while recording a goal and two assists in Los Angeles' 4-3 shootout win on Oct. 22. Captain Henrik Sedin scored and set up a goal in that contest, but Vancouver has mustered just one tally in back-to-back contests and ranks 23rd in goals per game (2.37). The Canucks are permitting an NHL third-highest 3.09 tallies per contest, with Jacob Markstrom posting a 1-5-0 record in December and an 0-2-2 career mark versus Los Angeles.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE KINGS (17-13-4): After initially being deemed day-to-day, Toffoli (lower body) has seen his window for recovery expand before his status will be re-evaluated. "We'll get him looked at again early after the new year, so it'll be at least a week before we even look at him again," coach Darryl Sutter said after Tuesday's practice. Devin Setoguchi was paired with Carter and Tanner Pearson in practice in place of Toffoli, who has a team-best plus-14 rating in 32 games this season.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (14-18-3): After enjoying a career season in 2015-16, Jannik Hansen is singing a distinctly different tune in the current campaign. The 30-year-old Dane is expected to be sidelined four-to-six weeks with a knee injury, coach Willie Desjardins said. Hansen, who erupted for a career-best 22 goals in 67 games last season, has been limited to just nine points in 18 games this season after sitting out 16 contests with fractured ribs.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles has killed off all 25 short-handed situations over the last nine games, but yielded two power-play goals in the first encounter with Vancouver.
2. Canucks LW Loui Eriksson, who is expected to replace Hansen on the top line, has four assists in his last six games after recording just 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his previous 29.
3. Kings G Peter Budaj has turned aside 121 of 124 shots en route to posting a 2-1-1 mark in his last four starts.