Kings Notes:
Tonight is the first game of the Kings' ninth set of back-to-backs this season. Prior to this weekend, the team is 9-4-3 in back-to-backs (6-2-0 in the first game, 3-2-3 in the second).
Adrian Kempe tallied an assist Tuesday night against the Wild in St. Paul, Minn. to extend his point streak into a sixth game (8-3=11), matching his career-long set from Oct. 31, 2021 to Nov. 11, 2021 (4-3=7). Should he record a point tonight, Kempe would establish a new career-long point streak of seven games. He would also be the second skater on the team to establish point streaks of at least six games this season. With two more goals, Kempe can eclipse the 30-goal mark the second consecutive season (35G in 78 GP in 2021-22). In doing so, Kempe would be the 15th different skater in franchise history to record multiple 30-goal seasons and the first since Ziggy Palffy (2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03).
The LA Kings skate into the Prudential Center having won four of their last six meetings vs. the New Jersey Devils, dating back to Feb. 5, 2019 (4-1-0). In that time, the Kings outscored the Devils 15-14 with a goals-against per game of 2.33, the sixth lowest in the league versus New Jersey during that time. The last time LA visited New Jersey on Jan. 23, 2021, Alex Iafallo, Viktor Arvidsson and Carl Grundstrom all found the back of the net. Arvidsson enters tonight with eight points (3-5=8) over his last seven games vs. NJ while Iafallo has points (2-1=3) in three of his last four outings.
The Kings have points in their last three consecutive games against Metro Division opponents (6-0 W vs. PIT on Feb. 11; 5-4 OTL at CAR on Feb. 31; 4-3 OTW at PHI on Feb. 24).
The Kings are 5th in faceoff win percentage (52.8%).
The Kings power play ranks 2nd in the NHL (26.0%).
The Kings penalty kill ranks 25th in the NHL (75.0%).
Devils Notes:
The Devils are 6-1-0 in their last seven home games, with five of those wins coming by one goal.
The Devils are 16-11-2 at home.
The Devils are 12th in faceoff win percentage (51.5%).
The Devils power play ranks 17th in the NHL (21.1%).
The Devils penalty kill ranks 12th in the NHL (81.1%).
Who to Watch:
Sean Durzi, who collected an assist Tuesday night vs. the Wild to extend his point streak to four games (0-4=4). With his helper, Durzi eclipsed the 30-point mark for the first time in his career.
Jack Hughes, who tied for fifth in the NHL in goals with 35. Hughes has nine points (4-5=9) in his last five games and already has a career high in goals, assists (36) and points (71).
