AP
Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar (11) vies against Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty (67) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 | 2 a.m.
It’s difficult to gauge the Golden Knights’ new-look lineup after one game.
Vegas’ first outing with Jack Eichel provided bright spots across the board Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche, but the Golden Knights failed to do the most important thing: score.
Tonight won’t be any easier of a test with the Golden Knights trying to avoid a three-game losing streak against the resurgent Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.
“We just have to continue to play our game,” defenseman Shea Theodore said. “Those divisional matchups are critical. Right now, it’s time to step up and separate yourselves.”
Coach Pete DeBoer experimented with the forward group in the 2-0 loss Wednesday. With Eichel as first-line center, Chandler Stephenson was moved to the third line with leading goal scorer Jonathan Marchessault and Nicolas Roy.
Mattias Janmark took Marchessault’s place on the second line, breaking up the “Misfit Line” with William Karlsson and Reilly Smith.
That plan lasted two periods.
The Janmark-Karlsson-Smith trio did not have one shot attempt against Colorado, while allowing 16 when they were on the ice. DeBoer reunited Marchessault with Karlsson and Smith in the third period; they had 10 shot attempts, four high-danger chances, and allowed just one attempt at 5-on-5.
“We had some moments, but I’m not surprised either,” DeBoer said. “We’ve got new combinations, we hadn’t played in a week (since a 6-0 loss at Calgary on Feb. 9), we got a new guy who hadn’t played in 11 months playing No. 1 center. I’m not surprised there wasn’t instant great chemistry, and we also played a really great team.”
The Golden Knights haven’t scored a goal in the last 139:46. They held an optional practice Thursday, giving no indication to how the lines will look until morning skate.
“I think it gets frustrating at times,” Theodore said about the scoring struggles. “We had a lot of chances [Wednesday]. Sometimes it comes down to guys squeezing their sticks too tight and not relaxing as much.”
Friday will provide another formidable defensive test.
The Kings (24-17-7, 55 points) are in the middle of a resurgence after missing the playoffs the past three seasons. Entering Friday, Los Angeles is tied with the Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division and holds the second wild card spot in the West.
Defense and goaltending is leading the way for the Kings, as Jonathan Quick (2.60 goals-against average) and Cal Petersen (2.70 GAA) have been a reliable goalie tandem. The Kings have allowed the 10th fewest goals per game this season (2.77) in large part to their center depth.
Kings captain Anze Kopitar, a two-time Selke Trophy winner given to the best defensive forward in the league, leads his team with 42 points and is still one of the game’s best two-way centers. Los Angeles signed center Phillip Danault to a six-year contract this past offseason, and the Golden Knights got to know him well in last season’s playoffs.
Danault, one of the best defensive centers in the league, was responsible for keeping Mark Stone without a point in Vegas’ six-game series loss to the Canadiens. He’s already tied his career-high with 13 goals this season.
DeBoer said Wednesday that Eichel was brought to Vegas to face strong centers in the Western Conference. Going from Nathan MacKinnon to these two is another tall ask.
“They’ve played well all year,” DeBoer said. “This is going to be a really tough game for us. There aren’t going to be any easy ones the rest of the year. This team always plays us hard.”
This is the first time the Golden Knights and Kings meet in Las Vegas this season. Vegas lost the series opener 6-2 in its second game of the season, but won 6-3 at Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 28.
