Yahoo Sports Game Forty Preview: Kings @ Jets
The Los Angeles Kings begin their five-game road trip against the Winnipeg Jets.
This is the second of three meetings between the Kings and Jets this season, with LA picking up a 4-1 victory at Crypto.com Arena on November 27th, 2024.
While LA’s home record has been the calling card for the Kings (14-2-1), they are one game above .500 on the road (9-8-4).
The Jets have done exceptionally well, this season, both at home (15-4-2) and away (13-8-0).
BRANDT’S BRAND OF HOCKEY
In his last five games played, Kings Defenseman Brandt Clarke has recorded three points (all assists) and a +2 rating.
Clarke began the season with an offensive flurry, putting up eleven points (1G, 10A) in the month of October. In November and December, he combined for ten points (2G, 8A).
A quick glance at his stats shows Clarke tends to turn it on in the back-half of each month. But, with six SOG in only two games this month, Clarke is coming out of the gate hot.
Clarke’s last goal scored was on November 25th, 2024. His seventy-eight SOG this season are the fourth-most on the Kings.
While Clarke is more of a puck moving, playmaking Offensive Defenseman, the recent uptick in shot attempts should prove fruitful.
JET PACK
In our game preview for the Jets at the Kings on November 27th, 2024, we highlighted that Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Morrissey, and Neal Pionk had been leading Winnipeg in points – a group I’m dubbing the Jet Pack.
Only one thing has changed since then. We can now add former Kings Forward Gabriel Vilardi to the Jet Pack, who has the fourth-most points for Winnipeg, this season, at thirty-seven (19G, 18A) – one shy of Morrissey (38).
Kings fans will likely make Vilardi their point of interest. But, I'd suggest the Kings key on Ehlers who, despite being fifth in points (12-22-34), has played nine-less games than the rest of the Jet Pack.
3D (DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFENSEMEN)
In the absence of star Defenseman Drew Doughty, the Kings’ defensive core has more than stepped up and answered the challenge.
Currently, four LA Defensemen have double-digit positive +/- stats: Vladislav Gavrikov (+16), Mikey Anderson (+12), Joel Edmundson (+12), and Jordan Spence (+10).
Anderson was asked if he preferred partnering with Doughty or Gavrikov. "I'm going to plead the fifth on that one, but either way you can't go wrong. They're both awesome players, so no worries either way." #GoKingsGo
— Andrew Knoll (@AndrewKnollNHL) January 5, 2025
Puck drop is slated for 5:05 PM PST. You can watch the game on television via the FanDuel Sports Network or listen live with the ESPN LA app.
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