Kings vs Golden Knights Game 43: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

In their third straight game against a division leader, the Los Angeles Kings take on the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday.

Puck drops at 7:00 PM.

The Kings beat the Knights in their last meeting just 11 days ago, but the Knights will have a few key players back in this game.

The big name is Knights' number one center, Jack Eichel. He missed out last time these two teams met and can prove to be a difference-maker tonight. Jonathan Marchessault also missed last game and will potentially be back tonight against the Kings. 

But, as head coach Todd McLellan said before the Boston Bruins game, the Kings will still look to play their game and impose themselves on their opponent. 

Despite their loss to the Bruins Thursday, the Kings are on an impressive 7-3 run in their last 10 games. They've been riding goalie Pheonix Copley, who's only lost two games so far this season and he's expected in net again tonight. 

The Kings will once again be without forward Trevor Moore, who was placed on the injured reserve list Friday, indicating his lower-body injury is worse than originally feared. He joins Arthur Kaliyev on the IR list for LA.

The only silver lining for the Kings in this news is that Quinton Byfield can remain on the top line. This has been his first extended look in the top six and he's making good on his end of the bargain. There needs to be more production, but he's played well over the last three games. He's playing with speed and using his frame to create chaos. 

A win tonight would put the Kings within four points of the Knights in the Pacific Division and provide some separation between them and the Seattle Kraken. 

Los Angeles Kings Lines:

Quinton Byfield-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe

Alex Iafallo-Phil Danault-Viktor Arvidsson

Kevin Fiala-Blake Lizotte-Gabe Vilardi

Brendan Lemieux-Rasmus Kupari-Jaret Anderson-Dolan

Defense:

Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty

Sean Durzi-Matt Roy

Alex Edler-Sean Walker

Goalies:

Pheonix Copley

Jonathan Quick

Expected Vegas Golden Knights Lines:

Reilly Smith-Jack Eichel-Jonathan Marchessault 

Michael Amadio-Chandler Stephenson-Mark Stone 

Paul Cotter-William Karlsson-Phil Kessel

Will Carrier-Nicholas Roy-Keegan Kolesar

Defense:

Nicolas Hague-Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb-Kaedan Korczak

Ben Hutton-Brayden Pachal

Goalies:

Logan Thompson

Adin Hill

Special Teams:

Los Angeles Kings Power Play: 34-146, 23.29%, 15th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Penalty Kill: 41-145, 71.72%, 28th in NHL 

Vegas Golden Knights Power Play: 29-113, 25.66%, 7th in NHL

Vegas Golden Knights Penalty Kill: 23-108, 78.70%, 16th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Pre-Game Notes:

• Thursday night’s game against the Bruins marked the first time in NHL history two Alaska-born goaltenders started against one another (Pheonix Copley – North Pole, AK; Jeremy Swayman – Anchorage, AK). 
• No team has scored more goals against the Golden Knights than the Kings (81). 
• Since his season debut with the Kings on Dec. 6 at Ottawa, Pheonix Copley’s nine wins leads all goaltenders in the league. 
• Phillip Danault has six goals and 10 points (6-4=10) in his last nine games. 
• The first time the Kings and Golden Knights met this season on Opening Night (Oct. 11), Gabriel Vilardi opened the LA Kings season scoring with his first period goal. At 23 years and 56 days old, Vilardi became the fourth-youngest LA skater in the last 15 years to score in the team’s season-opening game. (Nick Shore, 23 years and 11 days; Drew Doughty, 19 years and 299 days; Anze Kopitar, 22 years and 40 days).

How to Watch:

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