The Los Angeles Kings return home for the first time this season, and to celebrate the updates to Crypto.com Arena, the team gets to host the San Jose Sharks.
The arena features updated premium seating and a fancy new terrace, “… where every guest can eat, drink, and socialize while overlooking the expansive downtown Los Angeles skyline to the north and the arena bowl just below to the south.”
The updates meant the Kings had to start the season on the road. The team wrapped up a seven game road trip in Las Vegas on Tuesday. The Kings return home with a 3-2-2 record, and are in fourth place in the Pacific Division.
The Kings are missing key defenseman Drew Doughty, who broke his ankle during the preseason. In his place, former Shark Kyle Burroughs has found himself a spot in the LA lineup. Look for him to play tonight.
The Kings’ power play is a bit cold at the moment, while the Sharks have been having problems staying disciplined. This would be a bad game to allow the Kings to get back into the swing of things. The Sharks will need to stay out of the penalty box if the team is to have a shot tonight.
Another fun storyline to watch: when you meet your cousin on the ice.
Fun tidbit heading into tonight:@LAKings fwd Andre Lee will be facing his cousin @SanJoseSharks fwd Fabian Zetterlund for the first time.
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) October 24, 2024
The duo — who once played together very briefly on a junior team in Sweden – have come a long way from this photo taken back in the day… pic.twitter.com/ACwi4POEpp
Keep an eye out to see if Andre Lee and Fabian Zetterlund give each other a few extra pokes after the whistle.
San Jose Sharks lines
According to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, it will be Mackenzie Blackwood getting the second start in a row. Until now, he has gone back and forth with Vitek Fanecek in starts. But Peng reports that Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky was happy with Blackwood’s performance against Anaheim and he’s getting another shot.
Today is also a “development day” for Will Smith.
Here are what the lines could look like, according to Peng.
Forwards
William Eklund – Mikael Granlund – Tyler Toffoli
Danil Gushchin – Alex Wennberg – Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow – Ty Dellandrea – Carl Grundstrom
Klim Kostin – Nico Sturm – Luke Kunin
Defense
Jake Walman – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Jan Rutta
Henry Thrun – Jack Thompson
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
Vitek Vanecek
Los Angeles Kings lines Oct. 24, 2024
Look for David Rittich to make the start for the Kings in net. His backup will be Darcy Keumper, who was activated from injured reserve earlier today. Phoenix Copely was loaned to the Ontario Reign to make the transaction work.
Here’s what the Kings’ lines will likely look like tonight, according to LA Kings Insider.
Forwards
Quentin Byfield – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala – Phillip Danault – Trevor Moore
Warren Foegele – Alex Turcotte – Alex Laferriere
Andre Lee – Trevor Lewis – Tanner Jeannot
Defense
Mikey Anderson – Jordan Spence
Vladislav Gavrikov – Kyle Burroughs
Joel Edmundson – Brandt Clarke
Goaltenders
David Rittich
Darcy Kuemper
How to watch Sharks at Kings tonight
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena.
Sharks fans can catch the game on NBC Sports California or listen on the Sharks Audio Network.
As for Kings fans, they can watch the game on FanDuel Sports Network or listen on the ESPN LA app.
As always, join us here online to talk to other fans about what’s happening during the game and around the league.