Vitals, Betting Odds, and Projected Lineups vs Seattle Kraken

In the first game of a back-to-back with Seattle, the LA Kings will look to earn the full two points after falling short in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Blackhawks.

Despite many preseason models predicting them to be contenders, the Kraken have looked every bit of an expansion team. Seattle comes into this one with the third-worst winning percentage (.359) in the NHL, so it’s crucial that the Kings take care of business.

LA could also be getting another player back in defenseman Tobias Bjornfot.

“He had a good skate today, he’ll be evaluated after practice, once he gets off,” McLellan said via LA Kings Insider. “I think that we’re getting close to adding another body into the lineup.”

Tale of the Tape

Power-play:

LAK: 16.3% (28th)

SEA: 15.2% (29th)

Penalty Kill:

LAK: 75.1% (27th)

SEA: 74.0% (29th)

Faceoffs:

LAK: 53.1% (5th)

SEA: 47.6% (25th)

Goals per game:

LAK: 2.85 (21st)

SEA: 2.59 (29th)

Goals against per game:

LAK: 2.77 (8th)

SEA: 3.55 (27th)

Top scorers:

LAK: Anze Kopitar – 16 goals, 39 assists, 55 points

SEA: Yanni Gourde – 16 goals, 22 assists, 38 points

Betting Odds

Per our sponsors at Draft Kings, the moneyline likes the Kings in this game. Bigtime.

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Projected Lineups

Here’s how the Kings lined up on Thursday:

Tonight's @LAKings Line Rushes –

Iafallo – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Vilardi – Byfield – Kupari
Grundstrom – Lizotte – Kaliyev

Maatta – Spence
Moverare – Durzi
Edler – Stecher

Quick
Petersen

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 25, 2022

After getting the back-to-back, probably a safe bet to expect Cal Petersen back in net on Saturday against Seattle. 

He played very well in one previous start against the Kraken, stopping 17-of-18 shots in the Kings’ 3-1 win back on January 15. Interesting tidbit here, but five of the shots Petersen faced were from players no longer on the Kraken roster – Giordano (2), Blackwell (1), Johansson (2).

Here’s how the Kraken aligned in practice and against the Coyotes on Tuesday:

#SeaKraken  lines at morning skate:

Schwartz-Wennberg-Eberle
Donato-Gourde-Kuhlman
McCann-Geekie-Lind
Sprong-Sheahan-Donskoi

Oleksiak-Soucy
Dunn-Larsson
Fleury-Borgen

— 32 Krew (@The32Krew) March 22, 2022

As alluded to, the Kraken saw significant roster turnover at the deadline, with Calle Jarnkrok, Jeremy Lauzon, Mason Appleton, Johansson, Blackwell, and Giordano all sent to contenders in exchange for players and draft capital.

One of those players, Daniel Sprong, is a former second-round pick of the Penguins in 2015. He scored a power-play goal in his team debut on Tuesday.

“It’s a new team, fresh start,” Sprong said via NHL.com. “I wanted to make a good impression.”

I’d say mission accomplished.

Daniel Sprong is the fourth player in franchise history to score in his Kraken debut.

He joins Ryan Donato, Morgan Geekie and Jared McCann who all scored in Seattle’s season opener on Oct. 12, 2021 at Vegas.

— Seattle Kraken PR (@SeattleKrakenPR) March 23, 2022

Probably a good chance the Kings see Victor Rask make his Seattle debut on Saturday night. Acquired from the Minnesota Wild, the Swedish-born forward has five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 29 games this season.

The #SeaKraken have recalled forward Victor Rask from @CheckersHockey. pic.twitter.com/q789bTpIHJ

— Seattle Kraken PR (@SeattleKrakenPR) March 25, 2022

The LA Kings and Seattle Kraken get underway at 7:30 pm PT.