The San Jose Sharks are back home for a two-game stretch and up first on docket is the Los Angeles Kings.
Expect LA to bring its A-game. The team is dangerous on the road with a 12-1-1 record and seeing as how the Sharks are still division rivals, there will be no underestimating team teal as some other opponents have done.
The Kings are well-rounded when it comes to scoring. Nine players are double digits in points. Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala lead the way with 27 points apiece. Trevor Moore has 14 goals this season.
In net, Phoenix Copely was added to the long-term injured reserve list, which means he’ll be out for at least ten games. During that stretch, the Kings will lean even harder on Cam Talbot, who has taken over starting duties. Talbot is near the top of the league in goals against, averaging 2.02 per game. He’s also rocking a .926 save percentage. His 13-5-2 record is a big reason the Kings are currently third in the Pacific Division standings. David Rittich was called up to backup Talbot and could start tonight.
As for the Sharks, Anthony Duclair is expected to be back in the lineup after he was healthy scratched on Sunday night in Denver. Fans will also get a look at the newest trade acquisition, Jack Studnicka.
Also, good news for Sharks fans waiting for word on Logan Couture. According to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, Couture should join the Sharks at practice tomorrow.
Couture says next big step for comeback is to re-join a full #SJSharks practice, which is the plan tomorrow.
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 19, 2023
Quinn says this is furthest along he's been.
LC: "Hopefully, everything goes well the rest of the day, I feel good & recover well & wake up tomorrow feeling good."
San Jose Sharks lines
Peng reports the following lines with some potential alterations at game time. It’s possible that Calen Addison and Jan Rutta slot back into the lineup if they’re feeling up to it.
Forwards
William Eklund – Tomas Hertl – Alexander Barabanov
Anthony Duclair – Mikael Granlund – Fabian Zetterlund
Mike Hoffman – Luke Kunin – Justin Bailey
Kevin Labanc – Jack Studnicka – Filip Zadina
Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Kyle Burroughs
Nikita Okhotiuk – Henry Thrun
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Jacob MacDonald
Goaltenders
Kaapo Kahkonen
Mackenzie Blackwood.
Los Angeles Kings lines
According to Daily Faceoff, this is what the Kings lines will likely look like tonight.
Forwards
Quinton Byfield – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala – Phillip Danault – Trevor Moore
Arthur Kaliyev – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Alex Laferriere
Carl Grundstrom – Blake Lizzotte – Trevor Lewis
Defensemen
Mikey Anderson – Drew Doughty
Jacob Moverare – Matt Roy
Andreas Englund – Jordan Spence
Goaltenders
David Rittich
Cam Talbot
How to watch Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks
Tonight’s game is strictly on ESPN+ or Hulu so you may have to listen via the app. The radio call will be streamed through the Sharks Audio Network. Los Angeles Kings fans are also restricted to ESPN+ or Hulu viewing.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET at SAP Center.
Check back then to follow along with all of the play-by-play action in the comment section below!
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