Los Angeles Kings 2015-16 Regular Season:
Game 17 vs. Edmonton, November 14, 2015, 7pm PST
The Los Angeles Kings will look to finish their five-game homestand on Saturday night when they play host to the 6-11-0 Edmonton Oilers. This will mark the second of five meetings between the Pacific rivals this season.
The first time the clubs met was at Rexall Place on Oct. 25 when the Kings came away with a 3-2 win, but not before being in the middle of some controversy. It was with 3.8 seconds left in said game that Jonathan Quick made a goal-line glove save on wunderkind Connor McDavid. The on-ice call was no goal and after showing inconclusive evidence, the call stood to the dismay of many fans and experts. Unfortunately for the Oilers, McDavid has since fractured his collarbone and is out indefinitely as a result. Edmonton is 1-3-0 so far without his services.
Coming off a 4-1 defeat in Arizona on Thursday, the Oilers find themselves in a familiar spot: last in the Western Conference. With that said, the Kings have been notorious for not playing so well on teams they, for all intents and purposes, should beat. Fans will hope that will not be the case this time.
Despite his team winning on Thursday, there was concern surrounding Anze Kopitar on Friday.
En route to Los Angeles’s 2-1 win over the Islanders on Thursday, Anze Kopitar took a shot off the lower leg but did finish the game. However, Kopitar did not skate on Friday. Still, he is believed to be fine and should be in the lineup for the Kings on Saturday. The same can be said for Tanner Pearson who netted the game-winner in Edmonton at the last meeting between the clubs just over two weeks ago.
On a more serious note, prior to the game, expect the Kings to hold a moment of silence for the people of Paris, France. On Friday night, the city was under siege as, according to CNN, 153 people were killed. More information of this heinous tragedy will be revealed as time goes on but right now, or thoughts and prayers are with the people of Paris and of France overall.
Since winning seven-in-a-row, the Kings have alternated wins and losses without stringing together either consecutively. Saturday night will be an ideal time to start a winning streak as the Kings are then about to embark on a five-game road swing.
Enjoy the game!