Kings host Predators, seek fifth straight victory

NHL: New York Islanders at Los Angeles KingsLA Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) and center Anze Kopitar (11) celebrate at the end of the game against the New York Islanders at the Crypto.com Arena.

The Los Angeles Kings will try to run their home point streak to 12 games when they host the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

The Kings are 8-0-3 in their past 11 at home following a 3-0 win against the visiting Washington Capitals on Thursday night, ending the Caps’ five-game winning streak.

It matches the third-longest home-point streak in franchise history behind 13-game runs in 2022-23 (11-0-2) and 1992-93 (12-0-1).

With their fourth straight victory overall, the Kings remained within a point of the Edmonton Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division. That’s important because the second-place team hosts the third-place team in the first round of the playoffs.

“We have our eye on trying to get home ice for playoffs,” Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper said after recording his third shutout of the season on Thursday. “Every team in the race wants that, and we just know how important every point is going to be down the stretch here. We just want to make sure we’re coming to play every night and try to get as many wins as we can.”

Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller agreed with Kuemper that home-ice advantage in the first round is important, especially against a team like Edmonton, which knocked the Kings out of the playoffs in each of the past three seasons in the first round after finishing ahead of them in the standings, but he doesn’t believe it should be the main focus.

He’d rather they focus on playing the way they did against the Capitals.

“If we could do that consistently enough over the next 18 games, then we should give ourselves a pretty good chance,” Hiller said. “We just have to come out and be focused and play as a team.”

Kings forward Quinton Byfield has scored in five straight games, and Anze Kopitar enters on a four-game point streak (two goals, three assists).

Los Angeles also combined to kill all 13 power plays it faced in the past two games.

“We had some meetings and regrouped and got back to what makes us our best out there,” Kuemper said of the penalty kill. “Obviously we’ve been getting huge kills and we’re feeling really confident on it.”

The Predators are facing a quick turnaround after losing 2-1 at the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

Nashville battled back to tie the score in the third period, but failed to capitalize on a 5-on-3 for 1:10 midway through the third period and then gave up the tie-breaking goal with 8:40 remaining, ending a four-game winning streak.

“It’s disappointing,” Nashville forward Ryan O’Reilly said. “We had some opportunities to bury some goals and we didn’t. We had some chances to get up first because we didn’t give up a ton tonight. I think we held them to about 15 shots, which is pretty good, but a couple of mistakes killed us.

“I know for myself, I didn’t like my game. I didn’t nearly create enough. I know I can do a lot better, so it’s kind of frustrating that way because it was there for us. We’re back at it tomorrow. We have to take this with us, make our adjustments, and get ready for (Saturday).”

-Field Level Media

Related Posts

Goals are plentiful for Blues in win over struggling Ducks

Mar 16, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) defends the net against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit:…

Read more

SMU, Dayton among top seeds in NIT as teams decline bids

Mar 13, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Boopie Miller (2) shoots as Clemson Tigers forward Ian Schieffelin (4) defends in the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory…

Read more

South Region: Despite recent struggles, Auburn is No. 1 overall for a reason

Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) pulls down a rebound against Tennessee forward Felix Okpara (34)during the first half of their semifinal game of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone…

Read more

Utah rallies to beat Canucks for boost in playoff chase

Mar 16, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Utah Hockey Club goalie Karel Vejmelka (70) watches Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) handle the puck in the first period at Rogers…

Read more

Iowa State loses G Keshon Gilbert to injury before NCAA Tournament

Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) looks for a drive with the ball around BYU Cougars’s guard Dawson Baker (25) during the first half of the Big-12 men’s basketball…

Read more

Red Wings blank Golden Knights 3-0 for much-needed win

Jan 16, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan reacts from the bench against the Florida Panthers during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory…

Read more

Leave a Reply