Game #67 Preview: California road trip rolls on as Blue Jackets visit Kings
Here’s what you need to know.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Los Angeles Kings
Thursday, March 16, 2023 - 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
TV: Bally’s Sports Ohio - Radio: WBNS FM
The Columbus Blue Jackets continue their California road trip with a must-lose game against the Los Angeles Kings. We are beyond any point where wins help this team. The San Jose Sharks are charging hard for the number one draft pick odds, and Columbus gains absolutely nothing by winning right now.
Joonas Korpisalo might start for the Kings and Vladislav Gavrikov will definitely play. It’ll be nice to see some former Jackets tonight!
Player to Watch
Vladislav Gavrikov
Remember this guy? Remember how he was washed defensively in Columbus? Turns out a change of scenery and a new coaching staff have turned him into Victor Hedman.
#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Los Angeles Kings on 2023-03-14:#GoKingsGo #GKG pic.twitter.com/uGCM8ggkPt
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) March 15, 2023
Must be nice to have a competent coaching staff. Gavrikov has rediscovered his form in Los Angeles and the Kings seem solidly in the playoffs with about 15 games remaining in the regular season. Can he make similar contributions to what David Savard did in Tampa? We shall see.
Jackets Notes
Johnny Gaudreau was the first Blue Jacket with 5 points in a game since 2017 (Artemi Panarin) … Patrik Laine has 4-4-8 in a six game point streak … Boone Jenner became the second Jacket to hit the 20 goal mark this year, after Laine … the Sharks made up a point in the standings on Columbus … Gaudreau, in addition to two goals, had three primary assists
The Other Bench
This seven game homestand is the Kings’ longest of the season … Kevin Fiala and Sean Durzi remain out of the Kings’ lineup with injuries … The Kings have been rotating goalies, and if that continues, Pheonix Copley would get the start tonight rather than Korpisalo
Season Series
12/11/2022 LAK 5 @ CBJ 6 (OT)
03/16/2023 CBJ @ LAK
Stats
| Los Angeles | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.34 (11) | GPG | 2.64 (29) |
| 3.25 (19) | GAPG | 3.76 (29) |
| 24.6% (5) | PP% | 17.7% (27) |
| 76.0% (23) | PK% | 76.4% (22) |
| 51.99% (6) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 45.42% (29) |
| 53.52% (5) | 5v5 Unblocked shot attempt % | 45.36% (29) |
| 8.29 (20) | 5v5 Shooting % | 7.82 (26) |
| .901 (30) | 5v5 Save % | .908 (24) |
| Adrian Kempe, 32 | G Leader | Boone Jenner, 22 |
| Kevin Fiala, 46 | A Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 45 |
| Kevin Fiala, 68 | P Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 62 |
| Brendan Lemieux, 53 | PIM Leader | Mathieu Olivier, 81 |
| 21-9-3 | Home / Road | 8-18-5 |
| 7-1-2 | Last 10 | 3-4-3 |
Projected Lineups
| Johnny Gaudreau | Boone Jenner | Kirill Marchenko |
| Patrik Laine | Jack Roslovic | Kent Johnson |
| Eric Robinson | Cole Sillinger | Mathieu Olivier |
| Liam Foudy | Lane Pederson | Emil Bemstrom |
| Tim Berni | Erik Gudbranson |
| Nick Blankenburg | Andrew Peeke |
| Gavin Bayreuther | Adam Boqvist |
| Michael Hutchinson |
| Daniil Tarasov |
| Quinton Byfield | Anze Kopitar | Adrian Kempe |
| Trevor Moore | Phillip Danault | Viktor Arvidsson |
| Alex Iafallo | Blake Lizotte | Gabriel Vilardi |
| Carl Grundstrom | Rasmus Kupari | Arthur Kaliyev |
| Mikey Anderson | Drew Doughty |
| Vladislav Gavrikov | Matt Roy |
| Alexander Edler | Sean Walker |
| Joonas Korpisalo |
| Pheonix Copley |