Ryan Sikes 
The LA Kings will open their 2021-22 season against the Vegas Golden Knights. Here’s how both teams stack up.
After splitting their two-game series during the preseason, the LA Kings and Vegas Golden Knights meet for the first time during the regular season. Vegas already got a taste of the regular season, defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-3 on Tuesday. Several media outlets have the Golden Knights as Stanley Cup Finalists, and the LA Kings will look to make a step in the right direction to return to the playoffs after an active offseason.
One-Timers
- The LA Kings went 2-6 against the Vegas Golden Knights in the modified 2021 season, playing each West Division opponent eight times. Vegas leads the all-time series 10-11 during the regular season, but they come into this one having lost the last two.
- Phillip Danault is one point away from 200 career points. It will also be interesting to watch Danault go up against Mark Stone, a player he shut down in the Canadiens/Golden Knights series during the playoffs.
- Potential goaltender for Thursday – Cal Petersen has played well against Vegas throughout his career. In eight games, the Kings’ netminder owns a 2.58 GAA and .931 SV%. Last year, he went 2-2 in six games with a 2.81 GAA and .928 SV%.
- On Wednesday, Todd McLellan said that Jonathan Quick and Petersen would likely split the first two games, nothing that he wanted to get both guys engaged early in the season.
Should add some of McClellan's reasoning – noted that he wanted to get both guys going and engaged early. Didn't want to wait until the back-to-back series later on the road trip.
Also pointed out, Quick wants to keep the crease & Cal wants to take it. Somebody needs to grab it.
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) October 13, 2021
Puck Drops and Broadcast Info
- Thursday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. PT
- TV: TVAS, BSW, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+
- Radio: iHeartRadio
Tale of the Tape
*numbers from 2021 season
Powerplay
LA Kings: 18.9% (19th)
Golden Knights: 17.8% (22nd)
Penalty-Kill
LAK: 83.7% (7th)
VGK: 86.8% (1st)
Faceoffs
LAK: 50.6% (12th)
VGK: 49.5% (20th)
Goals Per Game
LAK: 2.54 (27th)
VGK: 3.39 (3rd)
Goals Against Per Game
LAK: 2.18 (1st)
VGK: 3.02 (21st)
Top Scorer
LAK: Anze Kopitar – 13 goals, 37 assists, 50 points
VGK: Mark Stone – 21 goals, 40 assists, 61 points