Dawdler
Run to the Hills!!
- Aug 2, 2005
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KINGS (22-19-4) at ISLANDERS (18-17-8)
7 p.m. ET; MSG Plus, KCOP-13, NHL.TV
Kings team scope
The Los Angeles Kings begin a stretch of four consecutive road games in six days on the east coast before they host the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend at Staples Center. The Kings also play the New York Rangers on Monday, the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. Los Angeles is coming off of a seven-game homestand (3-4-0) and is three points out of a Stanley Cup Playoffs position, but have games in hand on the teams around them. The Kings had a morning skate at Barclays Center on Saturday and Peter Budaj was the first goalie off of the ice, meaning he likely will start. Budaj made 22 saves in a 4-2 win against the New York Islanders at Staples Center on Nov. 23.
Islanders team scope
Jean-Francois Berube will start in goal. It will be his first start since Dec. 18. Berube was selected by the Kings in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Draft and played for their American Hockey League affiliate for two seasons. Forward Andrew Ladd and defenseman Johnny Boychuck won't play. The Islanders are coming off of a 3-0 win against the Dallas Stars at Barclays Center on Thursday, the debut of coach Doug Weight, who took over for Jack Capuano after he was fired on Tuesday. New York has a shutout streak of 126:07. They shut out the Boston Bruins 4-0 on Monday, Capuano's final game as coach. Thomas Greiss had a shutout in each; he made 32 saves against Boston and 23 against Dallas. The Islanders haven't allowed a goal since last Saturday, when Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal scored on Greiss at 13:53 of the third period of a 7-4 loss. The Islanders are 25-for-28 on the penalty kill in their past 12 games (89.2 percent).
Kings projected lineup
Dwight King -- Anze Kopitar -- Marian Gaborik
Tanner Pearson -- Jeff Carter -- Dustin Brown
Trevor Lewis -- Nic Dowd -- Andy Andreoff
Kyle Clifford -- Drew Shore -- Jordan Nolan
Jake Muzzin -- Drew Doughty
Brayden McNabb -- Alec Martinez
Derek Forbort -- Kevin Gravel
Peter Budaj
Jeff Zatkoff
Scratched: Devin Setoguchi, Matt Greene, Tom Gilbert
Injured: Tyler Toffoli (lower body), Jonathan Quick (groin)
Islanders projected lineup
Anders Lee -- John Tavares -- Josh Bailey
Brock Nelson -- Ryan Strome -- Stephen Gionta
Anthony Beauvillier -- Alan Quine -- Jason Chimera
Shane Prince -- Casey Cizikas -- Nikolay Kulemin
Nick Leddy -- Adam Pelech
Thomas Hickey -- Scott Mayfield
Calvin de Haan -- Dennis Seidenberg
Jean-Francois Berube
Thomas Greiss
Scratched: none
Injured: Travis Hamonic (lower body), Cal Clutterbuck (upper body), Andrew Ladd (lower body), Johnny Boychuk (upper body)
Status report
Weight said Ladd and Boychuk won't play, but didn't completely rule out Clutterbuck. … Greene did not skate with the Kings at Barclays Center on Saturday morning and is not expected to play. … Toffoli traveled with the Kings but isn't expected to play until after the All-Star break (Jan. 27-30).
Who's hot
Gaborik has four points, including two goals, in the past four games. He had five points, including two goals, in his first 19 games this season. … Brown had two assists against the Sharks, giving him six points in the past five games. ... Tavares had two goals against Dallas and has seven in the past four games. … Lee has points in three straight games (one goal, three assists). … Kulemin has three points in the past two games, including two goals against Boston.
