Final
Kings-Hurricanes Preview
Nov 21, 2015 - 5:25 PM Darryl Sutter considers four to be the magic number for the Los Angeles Kings while the Carolina Hurricanes have only reached that goal total once.The visiting Kings seem more likely to get to that plateau Sunday when they aim to hand the Hurricanes a sixth straight loss.
Los Angeles (12-7-0) fell 3-2 at Detroit on Friday despite a 37-29 edge in shots, and Sutter wasn't happy with his club's inability to convert.
"We had lots of opportunities," Sutter said. "If you give up three, meaning the other team scores three, then you've got to score four. That's a big challenge in this league."
The Kings have scored four goals five times and have won all nine games when they have netted at least three. Jeff Carter had both goals Friday, including his first short-handed tally of the season.
Carolina (6-10-3) fell to 0-2-3 in its last five with Friday's 2-1 shootout loss to Toronto. The Hurricanes have scored three goals or fewer in 15 straight games since a 5-3 win over Detroit on Oct. 16, and have one of the league's worst offenses with 1.9 goals per game.
Los Angeles has taken four of the last five meetings, winning 3-0 at home Oct. 23. Tyler Toffoli scored twice and Jonathan Quick made 40 saves.
"They're a hard-working team," Carter said. "They've got a lot of guys that can skate and have a lot of skill. We better be ready."
Quick figures to return after Jhonas Enroth got the nod Friday. Quick is 4-1-0 with a 1.38 goals-against average in five games versus the Hurricanes.
Carolina will likely use Cam Ward, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner like Quick. Ward is 3-0-1 with a 1.23 GAA in four home starts versus the Kings.
The Hurricanes made history Friday, marking the first time all their defensemen hailed from the United States with six dressing. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin made his NHL debut.
"We play them. We like them. We like all those young kids, we like all our D that we have with us right here with us right now, we have a lot of confidence in them," coach Bill Peters said. "We had Jaccob start the game, and we think he's a good player. So we're going to play them."
Another defenseman, Justin Faulk, leads the team with six goals.
Among the Hurricanes' misfiring forwards is Eric Staal, who has four goals and hasn't scored in seven straight games after leading the club with 23 a season ago. Newcomer Kris Versteeg has two and a team-high nine assists.
The Kings average just under 28 hits while the Hurricanes average 18.0 for one of the NHL's lowest marks, though these teams each had 19 in the first meeting.
"They're an extremely deep team, they come hard, they check very well and their back end can create a lot of offense for them too but we should be excited for the challenge," Versteeg said about the Kings.
Carolina's last six-game slide was Dec. 4-16.
- LOS ANGELES: 3
CAROLINA: 4
Final
Feb 26 4:48 PM - LOS ANGELES: 3
CAROLINA: 4
Final
Nov 22 3:43 PM - LOS ANGELES: 3
CAROLINA: 4
End of Regulation
Nov 22 3:42 PM - End of 3rd Period.
Nov 22 3:42 PM - Power play - Goal scored by Anze Kopitar assisted by Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin
Kings 2, Hurricanes 4 3rd - 10:45Nov 22 3:21 PM - LOS ANGELES: 2
CAROLINA: 4
End of 2nd
Nov 22 2:48 PM - End of 2nd Period.
Nov 22 2:48 PM - Power play - Goal scored by Justin Faulk assisted by Noah Hanifin and Victor Rask
Kings 1, Hurricanes 4 2nd - 2:14Nov 22 2:44 PM - Power play - Goal scored by Justin Faulk assisted by Elias Lindholm and Kris Versteeg
Kings 0, Hurricanes 3 2nd - 15:34Nov 22 2:15 PM - Goal scored by Jeff Skinner assisted by Kris Versteeg and Brett Pesce
Kings 0, Hurricanes 2 2nd - 18:12Nov 22 2:07 PM - LOS ANGELES: 0
CAROLINA: 1
End of 1st
Nov 22 1:46 PM - End of 1st Period.
Nov 22 1:45 PM - Jeff Carter won faceoff against Jordan Staal in neutral zone
Nov 22 1:09 PM - LOS ANGELES: 0
CAROLINA: 0
1st Period - 19:56
Nov 22 1:09 PM
Related News
- Storm Advisory 12/24/23: NHL Daily News, Links and Roundup Dec 24
- Islanders 5, Hurricanes 4 Dec 23
- Game Preview: Islanders at Hurricanes Dec 23
- Penguins 2, Hurricanes 1 - SO Dec 21
- Game Preview: Hurricanes at Penguins Dec 21
- Storm Advisory 12/20/23: NHL Daily News, Links and Roundup Dec 20
- Hurricanes 6, Golden Knights 3 Dec 20
- Game Preview: Golden Knights at Hurricanes Dec 19
- Capitals 2, Hurricanes 1 - SO Dec 17
- Game Preview: Capitals at Hurricanes Dec 17
- Storm Advisory 12/17/23: NHL Daily News, Links and Roundup Dec 17
- Hurricanes Put Antti Raanta on Waivers Dec 16