#LAKings Kings find defensive stride as Florida comes to town (Daily News)
Jerry Seinfeld once joked that jeering a player that had been traded away from your team was absurd, summarizing it as Boo! Different shirt!
But a change of jersey for winger Matthew Tkachuk certainly wont deter Kings fans from letting their disapproval rain down on the Calgary Flame turned Florida Panther (and arch nemesis of Kings defenseman Drew Doughty) when the Kings host Florida Saturday.
Continuing the step-forward-step-back theme of their campaign to date, the Kings split their three-game road trip down the middle, 1-1-1, to remain at an even .500 points percentage.
They concluded their recent swing against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, whom they’ll welcome next Thursday. In Chicago, the Kings came up short in overtime, with a 2-1 final representing their first loss of the season in which they had given up fewer than four goals. To some of the Kings, that was an encouraging sign.
Weve started the year scoring quite a bit but also giving up a lot, Kings forward Trevor Moore said. I think our team is starting to turn around and play a little more defensive hockey, which I think most Kings fans are used to and Kings players are used to. I think thats actually a good sign for us, when were in these 1-1 games versus 6-5 shootouts.
Though winger Kevin Fialas five-game point streak was snapped, he continued to appear more consistently engaged, a welcome sign for the Kings and their banner acquisition this offseason.
I think its been a step forward every game; I dont think hes stepping back at all, Kings coach Todd McLellan said. Hes a very dynamic player, and good players make other players around them better and I see that too.
He keeps a lot of plays alive (and hes) very creative. Hes starting to figure out our system and our structure a little bit more. Hes a hell of a player, McLellan added.
On the injury front, the Kings loaned forward Rasmus Kupari, who had been playing his natural center position, to the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League. Thats a positive sign for the potential return of pivot Quinton Byfield, who has missed the past five games due to illness.
Meanwhile, defenseman Brandt Clarke did not dress Thursday and remained at nine games played, the maximum before an entry-level year comes off his contract.
For Florida, last season ended in abject disappointment after they went all in at the trade deadline to acquire forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Ben Chiarot at the cost of two first-round picks and more. Their investments didnt pay off as they were swept out of the playoffs by their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
That didnt stop the Panthers from remaining aggressive over the summer, when they leading scorer Jonathan Huberdeau and emergent defenseman MacKenzie Weegar as part of a package for Tkachuk. Huberdeau notched 115 points last season, tying for second in the NHL, but is off to a slow start in Calgary with just five points in nine games. Weegars four points lag only slightly behind the pace he kept while accumulating 80 points over the past two campaigns.
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But Tkachuk, a pest extraordinaire with serious scoring touch, has taken to the Sunshine State like a fish to water. He has racked up 16 points and 18 penalty minutes in 11 games to pace the Panthers in both categories. He has skated on a top line that includes two-way standout Aleksander Barkov and late bloomer Carter Verhaeghe, who have notched nine points apiece.
On defense, the Panthers have been without top rearguard Aaron Ekblad since he sustained a groin injury against Boston on Oct. 17. He has resumed skating with the team but will not be available Saturday. Brandon Montour is one of two former Ducks on the Florida blue line (Josh Mahura is the other) and has filled in aptly, apart from missing a pair of games himself, with eight points in nine appearances.
Florida at Kings
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Bally Sports West/IHeartRadio
https://www.dailynews.com/2022/11/04...comes-to-town/
But a change of jersey for winger Matthew Tkachuk certainly wont deter Kings fans from letting their disapproval rain down on the Calgary Flame turned Florida Panther (and arch nemesis of Kings defenseman Drew Doughty) when the Kings host Florida Saturday.
Continuing the step-forward-step-back theme of their campaign to date, the Kings split their three-game road trip down the middle, 1-1-1, to remain at an even .500 points percentage.
They concluded their recent swing against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, whom they’ll welcome next Thursday. In Chicago, the Kings came up short in overtime, with a 2-1 final representing their first loss of the season in which they had given up fewer than four goals. To some of the Kings, that was an encouraging sign.
Weve started the year scoring quite a bit but also giving up a lot, Kings forward Trevor Moore said. I think our team is starting to turn around and play a little more defensive hockey, which I think most Kings fans are used to and Kings players are used to. I think thats actually a good sign for us, when were in these 1-1 games versus 6-5 shootouts.
Though winger Kevin Fialas five-game point streak was snapped, he continued to appear more consistently engaged, a welcome sign for the Kings and their banner acquisition this offseason.
I think its been a step forward every game; I dont think hes stepping back at all, Kings coach Todd McLellan said. Hes a very dynamic player, and good players make other players around them better and I see that too.
He keeps a lot of plays alive (and hes) very creative. Hes starting to figure out our system and our structure a little bit more. Hes a hell of a player, McLellan added.
On the injury front, the Kings loaned forward Rasmus Kupari, who had been playing his natural center position, to the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League. Thats a positive sign for the potential return of pivot Quinton Byfield, who has missed the past five games due to illness.
Meanwhile, defenseman Brandt Clarke did not dress Thursday and remained at nine games played, the maximum before an entry-level year comes off his contract.
For Florida, last season ended in abject disappointment after they went all in at the trade deadline to acquire forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Ben Chiarot at the cost of two first-round picks and more. Their investments didnt pay off as they were swept out of the playoffs by their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
That didnt stop the Panthers from remaining aggressive over the summer, when they leading scorer Jonathan Huberdeau and emergent defenseman MacKenzie Weegar as part of a package for Tkachuk. Huberdeau notched 115 points last season, tying for second in the NHL, but is off to a slow start in Calgary with just five points in nine games. Weegars four points lag only slightly behind the pace he kept while accumulating 80 points over the past two campaigns.
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But Tkachuk, a pest extraordinaire with serious scoring touch, has taken to the Sunshine State like a fish to water. He has racked up 16 points and 18 penalty minutes in 11 games to pace the Panthers in both categories. He has skated on a top line that includes two-way standout Aleksander Barkov and late bloomer Carter Verhaeghe, who have notched nine points apiece.
On defense, the Panthers have been without top rearguard Aaron Ekblad since he sustained a groin injury against Boston on Oct. 17. He has resumed skating with the team but will not be available Saturday. Brandon Montour is one of two former Ducks on the Florida blue line (Josh Mahura is the other) and has filled in aptly, apart from missing a pair of games himself, with eight points in nine appearances.
Florida at Kings
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Bally Sports West/IHeartRadio
https://www.dailynews.com/2022/11/04...comes-to-town/