Canucks Aim to Sweep California Road Trip Against Potent Los Angeles Kings

The Vancouver Canucks are set to face off against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena, marking the final game of their California road trip. The Canucks, who have been impressive on the road with a 5-1-0 record, are looking to complete a perfect trip after victories over the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks.

The Los Angeles Kings, despite the absence of key player Drew Doughty due to an ankle fracture, have started the season strongly with an 8-3-3 record and are currently second in the Pacific Division. They are known for their potent top line, which includes Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, and Adrian Kempe, who have combined for 17 goals and 39 points. The Kings’ power play, although currently in an 0-for-14 slump, has shown explosive potential in previous games.

The Canucks will rely on their strong team performance, as seen in their 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks, where they effectively worked the walls, moved smartly through the neutral zone, and dominated face-offs. Key players such as Elias Pettersson, who was highly engaged in the last game, and Quinn Hughes, who leads the team in assists and points, will be crucial in countering the Kings’ offense.

Goalie Kevin Lankinen, who has been outstanding for the Canucks with a 6-0-2 record and a .923 save percentage, is expected to start. For the Kings, Darcy Kuemper will be in net, despite his relatively lower save percentage of .899. The game is anticipated to be closely contested, with the Canucks slight favorites in the NHL odds.

The historical context between the two teams favors the Kings, who won three of four games against the Canucks last season. However, the Canucks have shown resilience and offensive balance this season, with multiple players contributing to their scoring efforts.

Injuries are a concern for both teams, with the Canucks missing Thatcher Demko, Dakota Joshua, and Derek Forbort, while the Kings are without Drew Doughty and Alex Turcotte.