Kings vs Predators Game 48: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings (25-16-6) will need a big bounce-back performance against the Nashville Predators (21-8-6) if they hope to avoid three straight losses for the first time since November. 

The Kings were sluggish and sloppy against the Dallas Stars on Thursday and will be punished if they play the same game against Nashville Saturday. 

They'll also need more from their goalie, a common theme all season. They'll need to finish their chances Saturday. Against Dallas, they created offense but didn't have the polish to finish. Too many shots wide or passes that just didn't connect.

Despite a rough outing last game, Todd McLellan is expected to go back with Pheonix Copley in net Saturday. He's backed Copley after a tough performance before, notably after the 6-0 loss in Buffalo.

There could also be some mixing of the lines Saturday after McLellan threw the lines in a blender Thursday. Both Alex Turcotte and Tobias Bjornfot are available to draw in.

For now, we'll stick with Thursday's lineup until informed otherwise.

Expected Los Angeles Kings Lines:

Kevin Fiala-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe

Alex Iafallo-Phil Danault-Viktor Arvidsson

Quinton Byfield-Blake Lizotte-Jaret Anderson-Dolan

Brendan Lemieux-Rasmus Kupari-Samuel Fagemo 

Defense:

Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty

Sean Durzi-Matt Roy

Alex Edler-Sean Walker

Goalies:

Pheonix Copley

Jonathan Quick

Expected Nashville Predators Lines Per PuckPedia.com:

Filip Forsberg-Cody Glass-Matt Duchene

Nino Niederreiter-Ryan Johansen-Mikael Granlund

Cole Smith-Juuso Parssinen-Colton Sissons

Yakov Trenin-Thomas Novak-Tanner Jeannot

Defense:

Ryan McDonagh-Roman Josi

Mattias Ekholm- William Carrier

Jeremy Lauzon-Dante Fabbro

Goalies:

Juuse Saros

Kevin Lankinen

Special Teams:

Los Angeles Kings Power Play: 40-164, 24.39%, 11th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Penalty Kill: 43-163, 73.62%, 28th in NHL

Nashville Predators Power Play: 24-151, 15.89%, 30th in NHL

Nashville Predators Penalty Kill: 32-160, 80.00%, 14th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Pregame Notes:

• Tonight is the first game of the Kings’ sixth set of back-to-backs this season. Prior to this weekend, the team is 5-2-1 in back-tobacks (4-1-0 in the first game, 1-1-3 in the second). 
• Captain Anze Kopitar skates into Bridgestone Arena with the most points against Nashville among Pacific Division skaters with 39 (12-27=39). 
• Quinton Byfield has four points (2-2=4) in two career games against Nashville. With a point tonight, Byfield can tie Dustin Brown (3 GP, 2-3=5) and Adam Deadmarsh (3 GP, 4-2=6) for the longest point streak by a Kings skater in club history. 
• Mikey Anderson is one point shy of establishing a new career-high point total. In 47 games this season, Anderson has tallied two goals and nine assists for 11 points. 
• The LA Kings begin their road trip with points in eight of their last 10 road games (6-2-2).

How to Watch:

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