Kings vs. Kraken Game 76: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

With a chance to clinch a playoff spot, the Los Angeles Kings head into Climate Pledge Arena Saturday night to take on the Seattle Kraken.

Puck drops at 7:00 PM.

Off the back of two straight losses, the Kings need to get back in the win column tonight.

With no word on Mikey Anderson's health, Gabe Vilardi still not on the trip and no word on Kevin Fiala, we'll assume all three are out tonight. 

The Kings have run into hot goalies in successive games now, scoring just one goal across the two games.

It will be interesting to see what happens on the blue line. Tobias Bjornfot was recalled yesterday but McLellan could up to keep him on the bench and move Sean Walker or Sean Durzi to the left. 

He'll also have to manage Alex Edler in a back-to-back situation, meaning Bjornfot should get into at least one game this weekend.

The fourth line will also be interesting. Zack MacEwen played just 3:04 against the Edmonton Oilers Thursday, so bringing Jaret Anderson-Dolan in would make sense. But McLellan could keep MacEwen in to deal with a heavy Kraken team.

I'd expect Pheonix Copley to return between the pipes, giving Joonas Korpisalo Sunday's game. 

Projected Los Angeles Kings Lines:

Quinton Byfield-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe

Kevin Fiala-Phil Danault-Viktor Arvidsson

Alex Iafallo-Blake Lizotte-Trevor Moore

Carl Grundstrom-Rasmus Kupari-Zack MacEwen

Defense:

Vladislav Gavrikov-Drew Doughty

Sean Durzi-Matt Roy 

Alex Edler-Sean Walker

Goalies:

Pheonix Copley

Joonas Korpisalo

Projected Seattle Kraken Lines:

Jared McCann-Matthew Beniers-Jordan Eberle

Jaden Schwartz-Alexander Wennberg-Morgan Geekie

Eeli Tolvanen-Yanni-Gourde-Oliver Bjorkstrand

Brandon Tanev-Ryan Donato-Daniel Sprong

Defense:

Vince Dunn-Adam Larsson

Jamie Oleksiak-William Borgen

Carson Soucy-Justin Schultz

Goalies:

Philipp Grubauer

Martin Jones

Special Teams:

Los Angeles Kings Power Play: 63-250, 25.20%, 4th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Penalty Kill: 61-249, 75.50%, 23rd in NHL

Seattle Kraken Power Play: 41-213, 19.25%, 23rd in NHL

Seattle Kraken Penalty Kill: 53-213, 75.12%, 25th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Pregame Notes:

• Tonight is the first game of the Kings’ 11th, and final, set of back-to-backs this season. Prior to this weekend, the team is 12-4-4 in back-to-backs (7-2-1 in the first game, 5-2-3 in the second).
• No skater has scored more goals against the Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle since the 2021-22 season than Phillip Danault (4).
• Alex Edler’s 6.73 blocks per 60 minutes ranks seventh among league defensemen (min. GP 60).
• The Kings have allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of their last 13 games, dating back to the beginning of March.
• Vladislav Gavrikov (49) leads the league in successful neutral zone stick checks.

How to Watch:

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