The Vancouver Canucks are set to face the Los Angeles Kings tonight at 10:00 PM EST at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. This will be the 3rd meeting this season between these two teams, they split the season 1-1 and will look to take the season series tonight in the final meeting.

 

Recent Performance

The Canucks (26-24-7) are looking to rebound after a recent 6-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, marking their fifth loss in six games. The Kings (30-17-7) are riding a wave of momentum following a 5-2 comeback victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, highlighted by Quinton Byfield’s four assists.

 

Team Records and Trends

Vancouver Canucks

Overall Record: 26-24-7
Road Record: 15-10-4
Power Play: 22.6% (14th in the NHL)
Penalty Kill: 81,1% (9th in the NHL)
Last 10 Games: 6-3-1

Los Angeles Kings

Overall Record: 30-17-7
Home Record: 19-3-2
Power Play: 15.6% (29th in the NHL)
Penalty Kill: 82.2% (5th in the NHL)
Last 10 Games: 5-3-2

 

 

Key Players to Watch

Vancouver Canucks

Quinn Hughes: Leading the team with 45 assists, 14 goals and 59 points, Hughes’ playmaking abilities are crucial for the Canucks’ offense if he gets the green light to play. The Canucks season lies in the hands of their captain. 

Jake DeBrusk: The top line forward has provided a scoring spark with his speed and physical play. He leads the team with  21 goals and has 14 assists this season to add onto his point total, making him a crucial piece of Vancouver’s offensive attack.

 

Los Angeles Kings

Quinton Byfield: Coming off a stellar performance with four assists against the Golden Knights, Byfield has accumulated 10 points over his past six games. This season Byfield has collected 33 points in 55 games for the Kings.

Adrian Kempe: A consistent offensive force for the Kings, Kempe has 25 goals and 23 assists this season. His ability to create scoring chances and contribute on special teams makes him a key player to watch.

 

Injury Report

Vancouver Canucks

Quinn Hughes – Was a late scratch before the break due to an undisclosed injury. His status for tonight’s game is uncertain.
Thatcher Demko – Injured Reserve
Noah Juulsen – Injured Reserve

 

Los Angeles Kings

No significant injuries reported.

 

Goaltending Matchup

Vancouver Canucks

Kevin Lankinen: Expected to start and fresh off a new contract, Lankinen holds a 19-9-7 in 35 games with a goals against average of 2.52 and a save percentage of .907 this season. After a rough outing against Vegas, Lankinen will need a bounce-back performance to keep Vancouver competitive.

 

Los Angeles Kings

David Rittich: Confirmed to be the starter, Rittich has been reliable with a 12-11-1 in 25 games with a goals against average of 2.59 and a save percentage of .890 this season. His stats on home ice are impressive, 9-2-1 in 12 games with a goals against average of 2.15 and a save percentage of .908 at home this season. His strong play at home has been a key factor in the Kings’ dominant record at Crypto.com Arena.

 

Game Outlook

The Kings’ impressive home record and recent strong performances position them as favorites in tonight’s matchup at prices of up to -170. The Canucks will need to address recent defensive lapses and capitalize on offensive opportunities to challenge the Kings effectively. Special teams’ performance and goaltending will be pivotal in determining the outcome of this contest.

 

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-BetOnBanana