Kings vs. Senators Game 28: Lines, Notes, & How to Watch

On the road again. After a four-game homestand, the Los Angeles Kings are back on the road taking on the Ottawa Senators. 

Puck drops at 4:00.

This is the first of six games away from home and three straight in Canada. 

Todd McLellan is looking to make a few changes for this game. Alex Iafallo will return to the lineup, playing on a line with Adrian Kempe and Gabe Vilardi. But wait, who's the center? As noted on Sunday, Kempe was working on faceoffs with Anze Kopitar and McLellan confirmed he was an option up the middle. 

"He could see some time there (center)," said McLellan Sunday. "With Iafallo coming back and balancing out the lines, again, especially on the road where we won't get the matches we want, we could see some time there."

Tuesday morning, Zach Dooley confirmed Kempe is expected to play center against the Senators. Kempe has the tools to be a center. He's big, fast and skilled. However, his previous attempts at playing center in the NHL weren't too successful. Now an older, more experienced player, this go around might bear more fruit.

The line he's on makes sense on paper. Iafallo brings defensive solidity and the ability to hunt pucks offensively. Kempe can transport pucks through the neutral zone and back off defensemen with his speed. And Vilardi can take advantage of the space created by his two linemates. It will be interesting to see how these three work together. But it's important to note Kempe at center is almost certainly temporary. When Quinton Byfield is ready to rejoin the team, Kempe will be back at wing.

The other change for tonight is in net. Pheonix Copley is expected to get his first start in an LA Kings jersey tonight. Copley was called up after Cal Petersen was sent down Wednesday and will give Jonathan Quick a needed night off. In 31 career games, Copley's posted a .900 save percentage, 2.98 and -9.0 goals saved above expected. 

Expected LA Kings Lines:

Kevin Fiala-Anze Kopitar-Arthur Kaliyev

Trevor Moore-Phil Danault-Viktor Arvidsson

Alex Iafallo-Adrian Kempe-Gabe Vilardi

Jaret-Anderson Dolan-Blake Lizotte-Carl Grundstrom

Defense:

Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty

Sean Durzi-Matt Roy

Alex Edler-Sean Walker

Goalies:

Pheonix Copley

Jonathan Quick

Expected Ottawa Senators Lines, Per PuckPedia.com:

Brady Tkachuk-Tim Stutzle-Claude Giroux

Alex DeBrincat-Shane Pinto-Drake Batherson

Tyler Motte-Derick Brassard-Mathieu Joseph

Parker Kelly-Mark Kastelic-Austin Watson

Defense:

Thomas Chabot-Nikita Zaitsev

Travis Hamonic-Jake Sanderson

Erik Brannstrom-Nick Holden

Goalies:

Anton Forsberg

Cam Talbot

Special Teams:

Los Angeles Kings Power Play: 24-97, 24.74%, 12th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Penalty Kill: 24-89, 73.03%, 26th in NHL

Ottawa Senators Power Play: 23-89, 25.84%, 9th in NHL

Ottawa Senators Penalty Kill: 20-91, 78.02%, 17th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Pre-Game Notes:

• Viktor Arvidsson is riding a four-game point streak (4-1=5) against the Senators dating back to Feb. 19, 2018 with Nashville. 
• LA Kings captain Anze Kopitar has 17 points (5-12=17) in 22 career games against the Senators, the most points versus Ottawa by any skater in Kings history. 
• Tonight’s game marks the 400th for Rob Blake as General Manager of the LA Kings. 
• Drew Doughty sits one point shy of tying Jeff Brown (584) for the 48th-most points by a defenseman in league history. 
• The Kings are 5-0-1 against Atlantic Division opponents this season. Vegas (8-0-1) is the only other team in the league without a regular loss against the Atlantic Division.

How to Watch:

TV: Bally Sports West, ESPN+; Radio: iHeartRadio