If Los Angeles Kings hopes to get over the first round hump in the upcoming playoffs, they will need their best players to be the best.
From Thursday’s matchup against the visiting Anaheim Ducks, King has five matches left before the start after the season. They have dressed a quay.
Los Angeles (44-24-9, 97 points) is still struggling with it with Edmonton for second place in the Pacific Division, but it is almost certain that Kings will open the playoffs against Oilers. Edmonton has eliminated Los Angeles in the first round of each of the last three seasons.
Kevin Fiala is one of those who seems ready for a strong mail season.
The left wing scored its 30th goal on the season on Saturday night in a 3-0 victory against the visiting Oilers. It is the second time in his career that he reached the 30 goal.
It has not been an spotless season for Fiala, which was a healthy scratch in a 4-2 loss on San Jose Sharks on October 29 because he survives and missed a team meeting when his alarm failed to sound.
He had been benched during the third period on October 26 after picking up two minor penalties against the Utah Hockey Club, which gave him five penalties in a five -game.
“The season is probably aged both him and I, to be honest with you,” said Kings coach Jim Hiller. “I hope it both ages in a good way. He plays his best. I will say in the past week, he has played as well as I have seen him play.”
The kings continue to try to take care of defender Drew Drew Doughty back to 100 percent.
Doughty missed the first 47 games this season after breaking the ankle in for the season. He was held from the 2-1 loss to Seattle Kraken on Monday after missing the last 7:46 of the third period in the victory against Oilers two nights earlier.
“Drew is the same as he always is,” Hiller said. “We have to give him some time.”
The ducks (35-35-8. 78 points) play the role of spoiler for the seventh straight season. They come from a 4-3 victory against Calgary on Wednesday evening that put a tooth in Flames playoffs.
Cutter Gauthier puts together a spectacular ending to their rookie season.
Gauthier has scored two goals in each of the last two matches, including the binding goal and the winner overtime on Wednesday. He has 19 goals in the season.
“Just trying to shoot as much as I can,” said Gauthier, who will be the fifth player on the ducks to hit 20 goals if he can score in the last four matches.
“Coach has harpable that we will not shoot pucks enough, so I’m trying to compensate for some of the guys who don’t like to shoot it as much.”
Lukas Dostal is expected to start in goal for the ducks after Ville Hustso made 36 rescues against the flames on Wednesday.
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