Kings vs Blue Jackets Game 31: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Consistency has alluded the Los Angeles Kings (15-11-4) this season, failing to win two games in a row for almost a month. Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets (9-15-2) they'll have a good chance to break that trend. 

Puck drops at 3:00 pm.

The story of Sunday's game will be the goaltending matchup. As the LA Kings and Blue Jackets post some of the worse goaltending numbers in the league. Columbus sits 32nd in the league for goals saved above expected, while the Kings sit just below them at 31st. 

The over will be a safe bet today. 

The Blue Jackets are riddled with injuries right now. Without top-four defensemen in Zach Werenski and Adam Boqvist. With last season's leading scorer Jakub Voracek out of the lineup as well. 

Pheonix Copley started in net last night, meaning Jonathan Quick will get the start in net for the Kings. The team did not hold a morning skate Sunday, but I wouldn't expect any change to the lineup.

The Kings will need to get their power play going again. After netting a power-play goal in seven straight games, the Kings have failed to register a goal on the man advantage in their last two games. 

Coming up against the league's worst power play should help the Kings; who have struggled to kill penalties all season. With Patik Laine, who still hasn't scored a power-play goal this season, and Johnny Gaudreau on this ice the Kings will still want to avoid penalty troubles. 

Los Angeles Kings Lines:

Kevin Fiala-Anze Kopitar-Arthur Kaliyev

Trevor Moore-Phil Danault-Viktor Arvidsson

Alex Iafallo-Adrian Kempe-Gabe Vilardi

Carl Grundstrom-Blake Lizotte-Jaret Anderson-Dolan

Defense:

Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty

Sean Durzi-Matt Roy

Alex Edler-Sean Walker

Goalies:

Jonathan Quick

Pheonix Copley

Expected Columbus Blue Jackets Lines:

Johnny Gaudreau-Boone Jenner-Gustav Nyquist

Patrik Laine-Jack Roslovic-Yegor Chinakhov

Kirill Marchenko-Cole Sillinger-Kent Johnson

Eric Robinson-Sean Kuraly -Mathieu Olivier

Defense:

Vladislav Gavrikov-Marcus Bjork

Tim Berni-Erik Gudbranson

Jake Christiansen-Andrew Peeke

Goalies:

Elvis Merzilinkins

Joonas Korpisalo

Special Teams:

Los Angeles Kings Power Play: 23-106, 24.53%, 11th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Penalty Kill: 27-99, 72.73%, 26th in NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets Power Play: 9-72, 12.50%, 32nd in NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets Penalty Kill: 20-87, 77.01%, 20th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Pre-Game Notes:

• Tonight is the second game of the Kings’ fourth set of back-to-backs this season (5-4 W, Oct. 17 at DET and 4-3 W, Oct. 18 at NSH // 5-1 W, Oct. 31 at STL and 5-2 L Nov. 1 at DAL // 4-1 L, Nov. 18 at VAN and 3-2 OTL, Nov. 19 at SEA). Prior to this set in Montreal and Columbus, the Kings are 3-2-1 in back-to-backs (2-1 in first game, 1-1-1 in second game). 
• The Kings swept the season series against Columbus last year, outscoring the Blue Jackets 6-4. 
• With their win last night in Montreal, the LA Kings improved to 11-1-0 (.917%) when leading after two periods of play this season. 
• Pheonix Copley stopped 20 of 22 shots tonight for his second win in his second career start for the LA Kings last night against the Canadiens. Per NHL PR, Copley is the first goaltender to earn wins in each of his first two appearances with the Kings since Jhonas Enroth from Oct. 22 to Nov. 12, 2015 (3-0-0). 
• Kings captain Anze Kopitar sits at 22,999 career faceoffs taken, while Jonathan Quick has 17,999 career saves entering tonight

How to Watch:

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