The Los Angeles Kings head into the fourth of a five-game road trip against the Vancouver Canucks.
This is the second of three meetings between these two clubs this season. The Canucks picked up a 4-2 victory in Los Angeles on November 7th, 2024.
The Kings are 1-2-0 so far on this road trip, all-three games decided by one goal.
Vancouver is coming off a 6-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. The Canucks are 3-4-3 in their last ten games.
LAFTERMATH
During Monday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, Kings Forward Alex Laferriere took a hard hit along the boards via Oilers’ Captain Connor McDavid. Laferriere, visibly upset by the hit, grabbed McDavid by the left leg and threw him to the ice.
Laferriere was given a two-minute penalty for holding McDavid, while Oilers Forward Kasperi Kapanen two-minutes for roughing Laferriere. The penalties resulted in four-on-four play where McDavid would score the only goal of the game.
In his postgame press conference, Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller called Laferriere’s penalty, “poor,” adding, “[t]hat was probably the part of the game – the moment of the game – I liked the least.”
Hiller was asked if he could share any information as to why Laferriere didn’t play during the third period. Hiller, while sipping his water, begrudgingly retorted, “[n]o, nothing to share.”
Yesterday, LA Kings Insider Zach Dooley shared that Laferriere will miss today’s game due to an undisclosed injury.
Full skate for the @LAKings today.
No Alex Laferriere today, out with an upper-body injury. Won’t play tomorrow against Vancouver, should get a further update later in the week.
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) January 15, 2025
BROCK ON THE BLOCK?
In his last ten games played, Canucks Forward Brock Boeser has recorded six points (5G, 1A) with a -2 rating.
During the game against LA on November 7th, 2024, Boeser took a hit in the jaw by Kings Forward Tanner Jeannot who was given a match penalty and three-game suspension.
Boeser wouldn’t return to the lineup until November 26th, 2024, missing seven games.
Despite the injury, Boeser has recorded twenty-seven points (15G, 12A) in thirty-six games, this season.
Boeser is on the last year of his deal which carries a $6.65M AAV and a ten team no trade clause. For several years, rumors have circulated – more like gossip spreading across the school playground – that Boeser could be on the Kings’ radar.
In need of a right-shot, scoring Forward, today’s meeting would be an ideal opportunity for Kings General Manager Rob Blake to discuss the feasibility of a trade with Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin.
-10 WITH 10 IN 10
LA Forward Kevin Fiala is currently the only Kings player with a double-digit negative +/- rating (-10).
In his last ten meetings against the Canucks, Fiala has recorded ten points (6G, 4A).
Fiala is often excoriated by fans who are quick to play the Good Kevin, Bad Kevin blame game. It’s a conversation I don’t entertain.
In my opinion, Fiala is the most offensively creative player the Kings have had since Zigmund Palffy. Kings Captain Anze Kopitar has heralded Fiala as the team’s, “gamebreaker,” and it’s only a matter of time before we get Excellent Kevin.
Puck drop is slated for 7:05 PM PST. You can watch the game on television via the FanDuel Sports Network or listen live with the ESPN LA app.
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