2024-25 Regular Season, Game 53 Preview: Hurricanes vs. Los Angeles Kings

The Carolina Hurricanes had plenty to celebrate on Thursday night when they bested the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2. Before the game, the organization celebrated Frederik Andersen reaching 500 games in the net, which he achieved last Monday night in Chicago. The game also marked Mikko Rantanen's first home game since being acquired and Ryan Suzuki's first NHL game after Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall were declared out with an illness. The penalty kill would start the scoring as Seth Jarvis finished a pass from Juha Jaaska late in the first. Ilya Mikhayev would answer, burying a breakaway less than two minutes later to tie it. Rantanen would give the home crowd something to cheer about, scoring his first as a Hurricane after an incredible pass from Jack Roslovic. Just 67 seconds later, Jaccob Slavin pounced on a rebound after Jackson Blake hit the crossbar, doubling the lead. Connor Bedard would draw Chicago closer early in the third, but that would be it for the Blackhawks. Pyotr Kochetkov made 18 stops and Jaaska added two assists to extend the Canes' point streak to seven games.

The Opponent: Los Angeles Kings (26-17-6, 56 Points- 3rd in the Pacific Division)

Like always, the Kings are right in the thick of the playoff hunt. They're well behind Vegas and Edmonton at the top of the division, settling into the third spot and a fight with some of the other teams in the Western Conference. On January 11, the Kings were sitting pretty. They were 24-10-5 and on a roll. Since then, the Kings are 2-7-1, including 0-3-1 heading into the final stop on their five-game road trip. They've been shut out in their last two games against Florida and Tampa Bay, running their scoreless drought to 162:55 since Quinton Byfield at 17:05 of the first period on January 27th in Detroit. It's a symptom of what has caused the Kings to fall back in the race. Their offense is ranked 28th in goals this season, which feels slightly uncharacteristic for a team of this caliber. Adrian Kempe hasn't been hit by the bug yet, reaching 20 goals for the fourth straight season with his team-leading 24. He also paces the team with 44 points, while Anze Kopitar is close behind with 43. However, there is a stark dip in production from there. Defensively, the Kings are still stingy, allowing the third-fewest goals in the NHL. Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich has nearly split the starts for the Kings, though Kuemper has been the better half of the tandem, boasting a .919 save percentage and a 2.17 GAA. After a tough week, the Kings are probably ready to play at home again.

Last Season's Meetings- The road team won both games last season. The Canes were in LA for their second game of the season, beginning their State Fair trip, and it was a wild one. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead after Brent Burns, Sebastian Aho (SH), and Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored in the first 13:30. The Kings got one back before the end of the period. Both sides alternated goals in the second as Brendan Lemieux and Teuvo Teravainen (SH) scored for the Canes, and Anze Kopitar and Trevor Moore scored on the power play for the Kings. Holding a 5-3 lead into the third period, the Canes were able to hang on. Vladislav Gavrikov scored midway through the frame, and Kopitar tied it with 1:22 left in regulation. The game would go to a shootout, where Jordan Martinook would end it as the 18th shooter to earn the Canes a 6-5 win. Los Angeles spoiled Justin Williams' Hall of Fame induction when they visited Raleigh in January. Moore and Martinook had the teams level entering the third period. The Kings scored three times in the first 5:20 of the third period, chasing Antti Raanta from the game and allowing Yaniv Perets to make his NHL debut in relief. Jack Drury tried to spark a comeback, but Moore scored into the empty net to seal a 5-2 Kings win.

Stories of the Night

1. Has the Bug Nabbed Anyone Else?

The team played without Jack Roslovic in New York and both Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall when they returned to Raleigh on Thursday against Chicago. There has been a big circulating through the locker room, so has anyone else fallen victim to it? Rod Brind'Amour alluded to other playing through it on Thursday, which leads to speculation that more scratches might be coming. It didn't seem to hamper the Canes too much against Chicago, but tonight will likely be a beast of a different kind against the Kings.

2. Doughty Returns for the Struggling Kings

The Kings defense got a boost this week when Drew Doughty returned to the lineup after an injury knocked him out during the preseason. The former Norris trophy winner still has plenty left in the tank at 35 years old, showcasing that during his nearly 28 minutes of ice time on Thursday in Tampa Bay. It comes at a good time too, as the group sorely needs a leader to help drag them out of a tough spot during their rod trip.