LA Kings Kale Clague

Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

After a 1-4-2 homestand, the LA Kings are off for a quick two-game road trip north of the border before coming back home for two. Before looking at Edmonton and Vancouver, some quick statistics from the seven-game homestand:

Shots on Goal:

  • LAK: 260 (37.1 SH/GP)
  • Opponent: 223 (31.9 SH/GP)

Powerplay

  • LAK: 3/18
  • Opponent: 4/16

Faceoffs

  • LAK: 55.2%
  • Opponent: 44.8%

The Kings outshot their opponents in all but three games, including a staggering 43-20 SOG against the Carolina Hurricanes. Prior to Thursday, they had done a good job of killing off penalties, but the Kings’ powerplay is just downright ineffective.

  • I wonder if the Kings will shake up the lines again, with several players being a non-factor in games right now:

Trevor Moore: 1 goal, 1 assist in 22 games played

Lias Andersson: 0 points in 7 games played

Rasmus Kupari: 2 goals, 2 assists in 20 games played

Matt Roy: 0 goals, 6 assists in 22 games played

Obviously, waivers play a factor for some of these players, but it’s just not working right now with the current group. Kupari can be sent down without needing to clear waivers. Is it time for Gabe Vilardi to return to the NHL as a winger? He has five points in four games with Ontario. As shown above, the Kings have no problem with shot volume, but they have very few TRUE finishers on this team.

  • Speaking of waivers – Defenseman Kale Clague will reportedly be placed on waivers, with the hope that he clears and returns to the AHL. Clague was recalled from Ontario in late October and played well in a limited sample size, recording five assists in 11 games, but he hasn’t played since November 21. With Doughty back into the fold along with Sean Durzi, there will not be much playing time for the 23-year-old. Will he clear again?

  • A quick look back at where this team was at the 22-game mark last year compared to this year. Is this team actually better?

Powerplay

  • 2021: 20.0%
  • 2021-22: 17.8%

Penalty Kill

  • 2021: 85.4%
  • 2021-22: 74.5%

Faceoffs

  • 2021: 52.7%
  • 2021-22: 53.5%

Goals Per Game

  • 2021: 2.91
  • 2021-22: 2.64

Goals Against Per Game

  • 2021: 2.82
  • 2021-22: 2.77

Obviously, the primary difference between last year and this is special teams. Through 22 games last year, the Kings were pretty darn good on both the powerplay and penalty kill, which led to scoring more and allowing fewer goals. Those numbers have slipped this season, despite the offseason additions that, on paper, were going to make the team better.

  • Around the league, the Panthers did it again. They clawed (pun intended) their way back from a three-goal deficit against the Buffalo Sabres.
  • Straight from NHL Public Relations – The Panthers (16-4-3, 35 points) earn their ninth three-goal comeback win since 2011-12 – trailing only the Penguins (11) and Capitals (11) for the most among all teams over the past 10 years.

  • The Predators released their Stadium Series jerseys yesterday….and they are something.

  • Out in Dallas, Joe Pavelski scored two assists in the team’s 3-2 win over Columbus. The Stars extended the NHL’s longest active win streak to six games and did so after becoming the first team in League history to score within the opening 75 seconds in four straight contests.

  • The Wild won yet again, collecting their 16th win of the season, trailing only the Maple Leafs (17) for most wins in the league.
  • The LA Kings will see all of the Panthers, Stars, and Wild this month. LOL

Bobby Ryan wants LA Kings’ Drew Doughty on 2022 Olympic team

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