Kings Notes:
Tonight marks the first game of the Kings' sixth set of back-to-backs this season. Prior to this weekend, the team is 5-2-1 in back-to-backs (4-1-0 in the first game, 1-1-3 in the second).
Over the last month, the LA Kings have found consistent success on the man advantage, scoring 11 power-play goals in 33 man-advantage opportunities for a 29.0 power-play percentage (PP%), placing third in the league during that time. Of the team's 11 power-play goals, Adrian Kempe has scored a team-leading total of four. Only Florida's Matthew Tkachuk (6) and Edmonton's Zach Hyman (5) have scored more with the extra attacker than Kempe in the past month (since Dec. 21).
Drew Doughty currently sits at 594 career NHL points (135-459=594). With six more points, Doughty can break the 600-point mark of his career and can become the first defenseman in franchise history, ninth Kings skater overall, eighth active defenseman and fifth skater from the 2008 NHL Draft class to reach such mark. Doughty would also be third Guelph Storm (OHL) alumnus to notch 600 career NHL points, joining former teammate and Kings captain Dustin Brown (325-387=712) and Todd Bertuzzi (314-456=770).
HC Todd McLellan sit three wins shy of tying Marc Crawford for the 23rd-most wins by a head coach in league history. McLellan stands behind the Kings bench tonight with 119 wins, the sixth-most by a head coach in franchise history and can tie Larry Robinson (122) for the fifth-most with three more victories.
The Kings are 5th in faceoff win percentage (53.0%).
The Kings power play ranks 11th in the NHL (24.4%).
The Kings penalty kill ranks 28th in the NHL (73.6%).
Predators Notes:
Colton Sissons leads the NHL in shorthanded faceoffs won (94).
Nashville has not lost to Los Angeles in regulation at home since Dec. 22, 2016, a five-game span. Overall, the Predators have lost only three times in regulation to the Kings in their last 24 meetings (14-3-7), with Nashville having won nine of 12.
The Predators are 10th in faceoff win percentage (51.9%).
The Predators power play ranks 30th in the NHL (20.9%).
The Predators penalty kill ranks 14th in the NHL (80.0%).
Who to Watch:
Captain Anze Kopitar, who skates into Bridgestone Arena with the most points against Nashville among Pacific Division skaters with 39 (12-27=39).
Roman Josi, who has 32 points (11g-21a) in his last 36 games after tallying an assist on Tuesday vs. Columbus. Josi has recorded at least one point in nine of his last 11 contests, and he is currently on a four-game point streak (2g-2a).
