Kings Notes:
The Kings return home tonight for the first time since April 10 (vs. VAN), where they played some of their best hockey all year. In 41 games at Crypto.com Arena this past season, the Kings have established a record of 26-11-4 (.683%) for 56 points. The team's 26 home wins tied a franchise record for most home wins in a single season previously set three times: 26 wins in 1990-91, 2005-06 and 2015-16. Only the 1990-91 (57 PTS) and 2014-15 (57 PTS) team's secured more home points in a season than this year's 56.
Anze Kopitar played in all 82 games for the seventh time in his career this past season. The captain took just two minor penalties all season, serving a career-low four penalty minutes (PIM). Among players to skate in all 82 games this season, Kopitar's four PIMs were the lowest in the NHL. Since the league expanded to an 82-game regular-season schedule ahead of the 1995-96 season, Kopitar's seven campaigns playing in all 82 games is the most among any Kings skater. He is also one of two players in league history to play all 82 games in a season and have four or less PIMs (Jesper Bratt, 4 PIM in 2021-22). Kopitar also became the first skater since Butch Goring (1977-78) to appear in at least 60 games and record four or less penalty minutes.
Defensemen Sean Durzi and Matt Roy have each registered seven blocked shots over Games 1 and 2. The only skaters with more in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs is Minnesota's Jake Middleton (9) and Jonas Brodin (8).
Both Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are set to appear in their 42nd career home playoff game tonight, moving one shy of Dave Taylor (43) for third-most in franchise history.
The Kings power play ranked 4th in the NHL (25.3%) and 2-for-10 in Games 1 and 2.
The Kings were 3rd in faceoff win percentage (53.2%) during the regular season, but rank last among the 16 playoff teams in face-off percentage for the first two games (43.1%).
The Kings are 17-24 all-time in best-of-seven Game 3's, but have lost Game 3 in the First Round in each of their last two playoff appearances (2018 vs. VGK / 2022 vs. EDM)... The Kings are 1-4 in their last five playoff Game 3's at home...
Oilers Notes:
The Oilers ranks first among the 16 playoff teams in face-off percentage, winning 56.9% of the draws.
The Oilers have outshot the Kings 77-59 in Games 1 and 2.
The Oilers power play ranked 1st in the NHL (32.4%), setting the all-time NHL record for power play percentage in a season. Despite the record, the Oilers went 2-for-13 (15.4%) on the PP against the Kings in the regular season and are 2-for-4 in Games 1 and 2.
The Oilers are 30-18 all-time in Game 3 of best-of-seven series, as they are 19-3 in series when leading 2-1 and just 4-8 when trailing 2-1...
Who to Watch:
Quinton Byfield, who assisted on Adrian Kempe's second goal in Game 1 on Monday for his first career playoff point. At 20 years and 241 old, Byfield is the 16th different Kings skater 20 years of age or younger to record a playoff point, and the first to do so since Kyle Clifford (Game 5 of CQF at SJS, 20 years and 100 days old). Only five Kings players 20 years old or younger have recorded a playoff point in the last 30 years: Alexei Zhitnik (3-9=24 in 1992-93), Aki Berg (0-3=3 in 1997-98), Drew Doughty (3-4=7), Kyle Clifford (3-2=5 in 2010-11) and Quinton Byfield (0-1=1).
Leon Draisaitl, who leads the series in points with five (3-2=5). Dating back to last year, Draisaitl has notched 14 points (8-6=14) in nine career playoffs games against the Kings.
