Maple Leafs Face Kings in Key Pacific Division Matchup

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Los Angeles Kings Saturday at 4:00 p.m. PT in an important Pacific Division clash, as both teams vie for playoff positioning.

The Kings are looking to build on a franchise-record 15-game point streak at home, where they currently hold a two-point lead over the Edmonton Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division. Coach Jim Hiller noted their strong performance on home ice, which has been the foundation of their success this season.

“We’re nearly unbeatable at home, but tonight’s matchup against Toronto will be a tough challenge,” Hiller said. “We need to focus on playing our game and not get too caught up in the standings.”

As of now, the Kings have a 69% chance to secure that second playoff spot with seven wins in their final 11 games, which would guarantee home-ice advantage. However, even winning five of those games would still leave them with a 64% chance to maintain their position.

The Maple Leafs come into this game after a disappointing 6-5 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. They are eager to revive their playoff hopes on this California road trip, aiming to notch five points out of a possible six. Forward Auston Matthews stated, “We know the importance of this game; every point counts as we close in on the end of the season.”

Projected lineups indicate key players like Matthews, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares will lead the Leafs, while the Kings expect the likes of Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty to step up. Doughty recently played his 1,200th career NHL game, joining an elite group of defensemen.

The Kings are dealing with injuries, notably to Alex Turcotte and Tanner Jeannot who are both unavailable for this matchup. Hiller is expected to confirm goaltender Darcy Kuemper as the starter, although he might opt to rest him for the second game of their back-to-back weekend.

“We have to manage our players carefully going down the stretch,” Hiller said. “It’s all about preparation for the playoffs right now.”

On the opposite end, Ducks coach Greg Cronin highlighted the growing synergy within his young lineup, which now features players like Leo Carlsson and Olen Zellweger, who have shown consistent improvement this season.

“The younger players are finding their rhythm and becoming a cohesive unit,” Cronin remarked. “We expect a strong challenge tonight from a talented Leafs team.”

Fans can catch the action live on FanDuel Sports Network, while the Kings radio feed is available via the ESPN LA app. As an added attraction for attendees, the Kings will host a ‘Puck for a Buck’ contest, offering chances to win signed memorabilia.