Game 40 Preview: Dethrone the Kings

Projected Lineups

Columbus Blue Jackets
(10-24-5, 25 Points; 5th division, 15th conference)

Los Angeles Kings
(20-14-7, 47 Points; 2nd Division, 7th Conference)

Season Series

12/15/11 - Los Angeles 2 at Columbus 1 - RECAP
01/07/12 - Columbus at Los Angeles
02/01/12 - Columbus at Los Angeles
03/08/12 - Los Angeles at Columbus

By The Numbers

Scoring
CBJ - 2.33 G/G (t26th)
LAK - 2.07 G/G (30th)

Defense
CBJ - 3.23 GA/G (26th)
LAK - 2.15 GA/G (4th)

Power Play
CBJ - 14.7% (22nd)
LAK - 13.8% (27th)

Penalty Kill
CBJ - 74.8% (29th)
LAK - 88.5% (2nd)

Game Notes:

• Odd Start Time - A 1:00 local time start. For professional athletes, routine is the king of everything. I will be interested to see if Columbus can come out quickly, given that this game will be about six hours earlier than they're used to playing. Who knows? Maybe a change in routine is what the doctor ordered.
• Special Teams - The Kings are actually worse on offense--including the PP--than in Columbus. This could be a night for the Jackets' PK to finally catch a breath, perhaps. Meanwhile, the Kings' PK is second best in the league. The Jackets would consider it a huge victory to get the edge on Special Teams scoring today.
• Head to Head - From the Great Rob Mixer: "Tonight marks second of four meetings overall and first of two at STAPLES Center this season between the Blue Jackets and Kings. Columbus is 18-20-3 all-time against Los Angeles, including a 7-12-1 mark at STAPLES Center. The Kings have won three-straight against the Jackets and six of the last seven."

The Jackets need to find some kind of offensive spark. I just don't see it happening today, however.