Kings vs. Coyotes Game 26: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

After a 9-8 loss and some big roster moves, the Los Angeles Kings take on the Arizona Coyotes Thursday night.

Puck drops at 7:30.

It's impossible to talk about Kings hockey without discussing the decision to waive goaltender Cal Petersen Wednesday morning. It was a surprise decision, but the right one. Pheonix Copley was called up to replace Petersen but is not expected to start Thursday night. Instead, Jonathan Quick will get his fourth straight start after getting pulled against Seattle on Tuesday. 

The Kings made a few other moves, calling up Tobias Bjornfot and Samuel Fagemo while sending Rasmus Kupari and Jordan Spence to Ontario. Fagemo and Bjornfot are both expected to start. 

"For us it's trying lefty-righty, putting Durz (Sean Durzi) on his strong side," said Todd McLellan on Bjornfot drawing in. "Tobi should feel comfortable with Matt (Roy) he should feel comfortable with the guys in the locker room, with the coaches and it should be a drop him in and get a few good games out of him. He's played very well at the American league level and we want to see that transfer over to the NHL level. We believe in him and I think he feels really good about his game right now. So we'll see how that goes."

On Fagemo coming into the lineup Todd said:

"Sami (Fagemo) is coming up and he's going to get his opportunity now to inject some life and energy into the lineup. I didn't think Sami had the type of training camp he needed to have so this is a real good opportunity for him."

Having lost five of their last six, the Kings need these changes to have an effect. At the quarter point of this season, they still can't find consistency and have seemed to regress lately. 

Expected Los Angeles Kings Lines

Kevin Fiala-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe

Trevor Moore-Phil Danault-Viktor Arvidsson

Arthur Kaliyev-Blake Lizotte-Gabe Vilardi

Carl Grundstrom-Jaret Anderson-Dolan-Samuel Fagemo

Defense:

Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty

Tobias Bjornfot-Matt Roy

Alex Edler-Sean Durzi

Goalies:

Jonathan Quick

Pheonix Copley

Expected Arizona Coyotes Lines Per PuckPedia.com:

Clayton Keller-Travis Boyd-Nick Schmaltz

Lawson Crouse-Nick Bjugstad-Matias Maccelli

Liam O'Brien-Jack McBain-Christian Fischer

Nick Ritchie-Barret Hayton-Zack Kassian

Defense:

Jakob Chychrun-Shayne Gostisbehere

Juuso Valimaki-J.J. Moser

Patrik Nemeth-Troy Stecher

Goalies:

Karel Vejmelka

Connor Ingram

Special Teams:

Los Angeles Kings Power Play: 21-89, 23.60%, 12th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Penalty Kill: 23-83, 72.29%, 28th in NHL

Arizona Coyotes Power Play: 16-69, 23.19%, 14th in NHL

Arizona Coyotes Penalty Kill: 17-84, 79.76%, 16th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Pre-Game Notes:

• The Kings are one win away from their 100th victory against the Coyotes in franchise history. 
• No team has scored more power-play goals (5) or has a better power-play percentage (62.5%, 5-for-8) in the last seven days than the Kings.
• Only San Jose’s Nick Bonino (35) has more blocks in the league among forwards than Anze Kopitar’s 33. 
• With his point Tuesday night against Seattle, defenseman Matt Roy (3-7=10) eclipsed the 10-point mark for his fourth straight season.
• Tuesday marked the fifth 9-8 game in NHL history – the other instances came on Oct. 27, 2011 (WPG 9, PHI 8), Feb. 27, 1982 (PHI 9, CGY 8), Dec. 2, 1981 (QUE 9, EDM 8) and Oct. 10, 1981 (TOR 9, CHI 8). The last time the Kings were involved in a 17-goal game was on Nov. 13, 1987 against Calgary (LAK – 7, CGY – 10).

How to Watch:

TV: Bally Sports West; Radio: iHeartRadio