LOS ANGELES | After Anaheim and San Jose, the Canadian ends his trip to California with a stop at Crypto.com Arena for a visit against the Kings. The CH will be looking for a third victory in a row.
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The newspaper offers you five elements to watch for this meeting against the Kings.
1 – A departure for Allen
It was Samuel Montembeault in Anaheim, Cayden Primeau in San Jose and now, Jake Allen in Los Angeles. The goalkeeper carousel continues.
Allen has lost his last four games. He hasn’t won since October 28 against the Jets in a 4-3 shootout win. Apart from the change of goalkeeper, CH will rely on the same formation as against the Sharks.
On the Kings side, Pheonix Copley should be Todd McLellan’s right-hand man. Like CH, the Kings will play a second game in as many days. Cam Talbot was in net for the 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
2 – Consistency
Word from Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky played one of his best games in the NHL on Friday against the Sharks in San Jose. In the opposing team’s locker room at the SAP Center, Slafkovsky admitted that he was gaining confidence, but he wisely reminded that he must above all maintain the pace.
3 – Dubois still in adaptation mode
Acquired from the Winnipeg Jets during the summer, Pierre-Luc Dubois signed an eight-year, $68 million contract extension (8.5 million on average) on June 27 with the Kings. In his first season in Los Angeles, Dubois is still finding his bearings. He has 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists) in 18 games.
4 – Byfield on the rise
Patience always remains a weapon for young players. Second overall pick in the 2020 auction, Quinton Byfield is quietly establishing himself as an impact player this season.
Before the Habs’ visit, he had already amassed 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists) in 18 games. On a team where there is an abundance of good centers, with Anze Kopitar, Phillip Danault and Dubois, Byfield finds himself on the left wing of the first unit.
5 – Two different realities
Coaches constantly talk about the special teams battle. In this category, the Kings have a big advantage. At least, on paper. Shorthanded, the Kings are second in the NHL, at 88.9% (7 goals allowed in 63 opportunities). They have two of the best defensive centers in the league: Kopitar and Danault.
The Habs, meanwhile, are one of the worst shorthanded teams in the NHL. The gang in Martin St-Louis is at 30e rank, at 72.8% (22 goals allowed in 81 opportunities).
The probable formation of the Canadian
Newhook-Suzuki-Gallagher
Caufield-Dvorak-Slafkovsky
Pearson-Monahan-Anderson
Pezzetta-Evans-Ylönen
Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Lindström
Struble-Kovacevic
Allen