Jets at Kings preview

JETS (12-5-3) at KINGS (12-7-2)
10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, TSN3, NHL.TV

The Jets are 8-2-1 in their past 11 games, and begin a three-game California road trip. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will start; he has held opponents to two goals or fewer in 12 of his 15 starts this season (11-2-2, 35 goals allowed).
Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick will try to end a personal five-game losing streak; he has given up three goals or fewer in four of those defeats (15 goals allowed). Goaltender Darcy Kuemper started for Los Angeles in a 4-0 win against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, the Kings' only victory in their past six games after going 5-2-0 in their previous seven games.

Players to watch

Jets center Mark Scheifele has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in his past 11 games.
Kings center Anze Kopitar has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his past 12 games.

They said it

"Hellebuyck [is] playing great, that solves a lot of problems sometimes, when the goalie makes the key saves at key times. I think he has done that for us all year." -- Jets forward Mathieu Perreault on goaltender Connor Hellebuyck
"It just comes from within. Individually, you've got to get yourself ready. The coaches put the game plan in place and they do an unbelievable job with that. If we don't start well, that's completely on the individual players, and as a team, the leaders getting the team ready." -- Kings defenseman Drew Doughty on getting off to fast starts in games

Jets projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Bryan Little -- Patrik Laine
Andrew Copp -- Adam Lowry -- Brandon Tanev
Mathieu Perreault -- Matt Hendricks -- Joel Armia
Josh Morrissey -- Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot -- Dustin Byfuglien
Dmitry Kulikov -- Tyler Myers
Connor Hellebuyck
Steve Mason
Scratched: Marko Dano, Tucker Poolman, Shawn Matthias
Injured:Toby Enstrom (lower body)

Kings projected lineup

Alex Iafallo -- Anze Kopitar -- Dustin Brown
Tanner Pearson -- Adrian Kempe -- Tyler Toffoli
Andy Andreoff -- Nicholas Shore -- Trevor Lewis
Jussi Jokinen -- Nic Dowd --
Jonny Brodzinski
Derek Forbort -- Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin -- Christian Folin
Kurtis MacDermid -- Alec Martinez
Jonathan Quick
Darcy Kuemper
Scratched: Oscar Fantenberg, Brooks Laich
Injured: Jeff Carter (lower body), Kyle Clifford (upper body), Marian Gaborik (lower body)

Status report

Clifford has been skating on his own prior to practice, but Kings coach John Stevens does not know when he will be cleared to take part in drills. Gaborik has been practicing without limitations and is on track to return by mid-December at the latest.

Stat pack

Wheeler has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in his past 11 games. … Laine has nine points (six goals, three assists) in his past nine games.