Ryan Sikes 
Our first look at Quinton Byfield versus Alexis Lafreniere, the LA Kings (21-16-5) face the New York Rangers (27-11-4) for the second time this season.
Tale of the Tape
Power-play:
LAK: 16.4% (26th)
NYR: 24.8% (8th)
Penalty Kill:
LAK: 73.0% (29th)
NYR: 84.4% (5th)
Faceoffs:
LAK: 53.2% (6th)
NYR: 47.4% (27th)
Goals per game:
LAK: 2.79 (21st)
NYR: 3.02 (16th)
Goals against per game:
LAK: 2.71 (9th)
NYR: 2.55 (3rd)
Top scorers:
LAK: Anze Kopitar – 13 goals, 23 assists, 36 points
NYR: Artemi Panarin – 11 goals, 32 assists, 43 points
Betting Odds
Courtesy of The Action Network:
| Kings Odds | +140 |
| Rangers Odds | -160 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 |
| Time | 4 pm PT |
| TV | BSW, MSG+, ESPN+ |
Projected Lineups
Here’s how the Kings lined up against the Devils on Sunday:
Forwards:
Iafallo – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Grundstrom – Byfield– Brown
Lemieux – Lizotte – Kaliyev
Defense:
Anderson – Doughty
Maatta – Roy
Bjornfot – Durzi
Goaltender:
Petersen
Quick
Villalta
Given the back-to-back, Jonathan Quick makes sense to get the nod against the Rangers. The 36-year-old is 7-5-0 in 12 career starts against New York, owning a .912 SV% and 2.42 GAA.
Something else to keep an eye on is whether Alex Turcotte and/or Rasmus Kupari get a start. However, it’s awfully tough to take someone out of the lineup right now. Carl Grundstrom would appear to be the most logical choice, but he also just scored the game-winner on Sunday.
Here’s how the Rangers lined up in Saturday’s win against the Coyotes:
Forwards:
Kreider – Zib – Hunt
Panarin – Strome – Goodrow
Laf – Chytil* – Gauthier
McKegg – Rooney – Reaves
Defense:
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Trouba
Nemeth – Schneider
Goaltender:
Shesterkin
Georgiev
* left Saturday’s game with an injury and is considered day-to-day.
No Kakko or Chytil at the #NYR morning skate today.
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) January 24, 2022
On Kakko's late scratch with an upper-body injury, Gallant said it wasn't something that started during warmups: "It’s been going on for a little while," adding that it's "nothing serious."
As you may have guessed, he said Kakko and Chytil are day-to-day. #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) January 23, 2022
Morgan Barron is one of the 12 forwards skating this morning, so it looks like he’s likely to play tonight. #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) January 24, 2022
It sounds like Gallant is giving serious consideration to playing with 11 forwards and 7 D tonight. He hinted at one of the defenseman being "banged up" and said he liked the way it worked against Arizona with Rooney rotating between the third and fourth lines. #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) January 24, 2022
Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant, who missed the first meeting in COVID protocol, made a lineup change after the first period on Saturday, elevating the Panarin to the top line:
Rangers start the second period with Panarin-Zib-Kreider as the top line #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) January 23, 2022
If Gallant goes the 11F/7D route, it sounds like he'll stick with Kreider-Zibanejad-Panarin as the top line.
"(Panarin) might start there tonight… Is it going to be long term? Maybe, but probably not… It was obviously real good last time."#NYR https://t.co/Ry7SOsHT3S
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) January 24, 2022
The LA Kings and Rangers will get underway at Madison Square Garden, with puck drop set for 4 pm PT.