GAME DAY | Canadiens – Kings: Preview, Lines, Goalies, TV, Fantasy
Jordan Lambe
Pre-game Notes and Quotes
Preliminary rosters for the World Cup were released on Wednesday and four Canadiens’ were named to their respective teams: Max Pacioretty (USA), Carey Price (Canada), Tomas Plekanec (Czech Republic) and Andrei Markov (Russia). Many pundits believe that P. K. Subban (Canada) and Alex Galchenyuk (North America) will make their respective teams once the full rosters are released.
Marc Bergevin had this to say about the remainder of the season: “I’d say that for the next 20 games, our primary objectives are experience and evaluation. There’s a possibility of calling up guys from St. John’s to evaluate them, too. The ideal scenario is to get a youngster [in trades] because that way you’re adding a piece instead of trying to fill a hole. I’m coming from Chicago where we built the team up through the NHL Draft by getting young players. That’s the best way to do it.”
Newly acquired Kris Versteeg had this to say about his new team: “It’s pretty much a perennial playoff team, a contender, and a lot of players that have done a lot of great things, so it’s exciting to come in this room and be a part of the group and play with a lot of these guys that are very good players and well respected around the league.”
While the Canadiens have a 5-14-3 record versus teams in the Western Conference this season, the Kings have a 16-9-2 record against teams from the East.
So far this season, the Canadiens have a 3-7-1 record versus teams in the Pacific division, while the Kings have a 8-4-2 record versus teams coming from the Atlantic.
The Canadiens have dropped in the standings for the goals against category, as they are currently in 20th in the league in goals against, with 178 in 64 games. The Kings have allowed 143 goals in 62 games and find themselves in 1st in the league in that category.
The Canadiens have dropped in the standings for the goals scored category as they are currently in 11th place in the NHL, with 175 over their first 64 games. The Kings are 20th in this category with 165 goals scored in their first 62 games.
Matchup
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA. | March 3, 10:30 PM ET | TV: FS-W
2015-16 statistics
KINGS
CANADIENS
78 (7th)
Points (League rank)
66 (22nd)
37-21-4
Record
30-28-6
18-10-1
Home
17-11-3
19-11-3
Road
13-17-3
5-4-1
Last 10
4-4-2
2.66
G/G
2.75
2.31
GA/G
2.78
22.0
PP%
17.9
81.3
PK%
84.0
56.7
CF%*
52.5
61.0
CF60*
55.7
46.7
CA60*
50.5
*Advanced statistics: Score adjusted, even strength. CF%: Corsi for percentage of total CF60: Corsi For/60 minutes CA60: Corsi Against/60 minutes (via War on Ice)
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Lucic – Kopitar – Toffoli
Pearson – Carter – Versteeg
King – Lecavalier – Brown
Clifford – Shore – Lewis
Pacioretty – Plekanec – Gallagher
Galchenyuk – McCarron – Eller
Mitchell – Danault – Byron
Matteau – De la Rose – Brown
Expected scratches: Lessio, Andrighetto
