Again residence after a much-needed victory, the Los Angeles Kings are set to play host Monday to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who’re wobbling into their upcoming Christmas break.
The Kings ended a three-game highway journey in opposition to some NHL heavyweights with a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday after dropping 4-1 to the Dallas Stars and 3-2 to the defending champion Florida Panthers.
The Kings have been residence simply as soon as since Dec. 8, after they fell 2-1 in additional time to the Calgary Flames on Dec. 13.
Adrian Kempe lifted Los Angeles to the victory at Tampa Bay with a pair of second-period targets. The Lightning took 13 photographs within the third interval, however Anton Forsberg stopped all of them to finish a 31-save evening.
The victory Thursday ended a four-game dropping streak (0-2-2) for the Kings and was simply the response head coach Jim Hiller was searching for after the 3-2 loss at Florida at some point earlier.
“We spent lots of power in Florida attempting to battle again, so I did not assume we had fairly the identical legs, however our will was there and I feel that is actually what carried the day for us,” Hiller stated.
Kempe performed 21 minutes within the loss Wednesday, his most in a 12-game stretch, however had loads left for the Lightning.
“I used to be recent,” Kempe stated. “Felt good, legs felt good. Simply tried to beat them up the ice.”
Los Angeles had three days to organize for the go to from the Blue Jackets, with Monday’s recreation the beginning of one other back-to-back because the Seattle Kraken pay a go to Tuesday.
The Blue Jackets are on a fast two-game journey to Southern California that opened with a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Geese on Saturday. Columbus has now misplaced seven of its previous eight video games, going 1-6-1 within the stretch.
Zach Werenski had a purpose and an help for the Blue Jackets in opposition to the Geese. Columbus trailed 2-0 three minutes into the sport and battled again to tie it 3-3 on Werenski’s purpose at 12:44 of the third. The Geese scored the sport winner with 3:29 remaining.
It was Werenski’s fifth purpose up to now three video games with the defenseman main Columbus in targets (14) and assists (26) on the season. He is also on a five-game factors streak with 5 targets and 5 assists within the stretch.
Mason Marchment scored a second-period purpose in his Blue Jackets debut. He was acquired in a commerce with the Kraken on Friday.
“They did an important job getting it by way of and simply obtained a bit of piece there,” Marchment stated. “Comfortable it went in.”
Ahead Miles Wooden missed Saturday’s recreation with an undisclosed harm.
After Monday’s recreation, the Blue Jackets shall be off for almost every week till they face the New York Islanders at residence subsequent Sunday. They may play 4 of their first 5 video games after Christmas at residence.
Blue Jackets are on a four-game dropping streak at Los Angeles, final profitable there in January 2020. That’s their solely victory in LA since November 2015.
–Discipline Stage Media
