#LAKings Kings come home from successful trip full of belief (Daily News)
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With designs on extending their win streak to four games after wedging a shutout between two comeback victories, the Kings returned home to face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
Most recently, they blanked Buffalo on Sunday and then rallied to topple Boston, sweeping the season series from the Sabres and salvaging a split with the Bruins as their overtime win soothed the sting of a 7-0 loss Feb. 28.
Across those two games, the Kings got three goals from winger Andreas Athanasiou, including his 100th career tally. He found the net twice in Buffalo and netted the overtime winner in Boston. Next up, they face the Sharks twice, at home Thursday and then in San Jose on Saturday.
Down the stretch here, every game is like a playoff game. A lot of the games are going to be gritty, Athanasiou said.
The Kings (32-19-7, 71 points) were also aided by the performance of goalie Cal Petersen, who earned the shutout and then a second victory, playing two games within 30 hours of each other.
The Kings now have wins in the back end of seven of their 12 back-to-back sets, and points in nine. They’ve won four consecutive games played on the second night of a back-to-back. They’ve also won six games when theyve trailed at the second intermission, which is as many as they had in the last three campaigns combined.
Were putting a lot of different tricks in our bag to find ways to win and I think thats only going to help us down the road, Petersen said. I dont think anybody panics. Everyone knows what their job is, what we need to do, and it all comes down to execution. Theres a lot of belief in each other right now.
Athanasiou had drawn in for the injured Brendan Lemieux, who now finds himself on injured reserve. He was joined there by defenseman Mikey Anderson, who sustained an injury against Boston, returned, and then left the game anew. Winger Viktor Arvidsson was also injured, against Buffalo, and the lower-body issue that sidelined him against Boston may well keep him out of the match with San Jose. Winger Arthur Kaliyev could see a promotion in the lineup amid the shuffling of lines.
Athanasiou and Carl Grundstrom have been filling in, and Lias Andersson, who had been completing a conditioning stint in the minors, is now also an option for coach Todd McLellan, who exited COVID protocols and coached Monday. On defense, Jacob Moverare remained in the fold while Jordan Spence, who ranks second among American Hockey League defenseman in points and assists, was also recalled to bolster the blue line.
Moving pieces havent hindered the Kings this season, and their depth should only get stronger later this month. March 21 is the trade deadline, and they appear to be buyers. Theyll also get a boost without making a move when defenseman Alex Edler returns from a lower-body injury he sustained in December.
In the near term, theyll have to contend with the Sharks (24-25-7), who have not been part of the California resurgence that has seen the Kings and Ducks lift themselves up from the Pacific Division cellar. San Jose has lost three consecutive games and has won just two of its past 13 games, leaving them ahead of only the expansion Seattle Kraken.
Forward Timo Meier, who touched up the Kings for a staggering five goals in a 6-2 San Jose victory Jan. 17, leads the Sharks in scoring. That was the only other meeting between the teams this season, but they will face off three times in the next week.
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Forward Tomas Hertl ranks second in scoring for San Jose, and as a pending free agent could draw attention from suitors as the trade deadline nears, though the Sharks would prefer to extend his contract. Defenseman Brent Burns has turned in his most productive season on a per-game basis since the 2018-19 season, when he notched a career-high 83 points in 82 games.
San Jose at Kings
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Bally Sports West/iHeartRadio
https://www.dailynews.com/2022/03/09...ull-of-belief/
Most recently, they blanked Buffalo on Sunday and then rallied to topple Boston, sweeping the season series from the Sabres and salvaging a split with the Bruins as their overtime win soothed the sting of a 7-0 loss Feb. 28.
Across those two games, the Kings got three goals from winger Andreas Athanasiou, including his 100th career tally. He found the net twice in Buffalo and netted the overtime winner in Boston. Next up, they face the Sharks twice, at home Thursday and then in San Jose on Saturday.
Down the stretch here, every game is like a playoff game. A lot of the games are going to be gritty, Athanasiou said.
The Kings (32-19-7, 71 points) were also aided by the performance of goalie Cal Petersen, who earned the shutout and then a second victory, playing two games within 30 hours of each other.
The Kings now have wins in the back end of seven of their 12 back-to-back sets, and points in nine. They’ve won four consecutive games played on the second night of a back-to-back. They’ve also won six games when theyve trailed at the second intermission, which is as many as they had in the last three campaigns combined.
Were putting a lot of different tricks in our bag to find ways to win and I think thats only going to help us down the road, Petersen said. I dont think anybody panics. Everyone knows what their job is, what we need to do, and it all comes down to execution. Theres a lot of belief in each other right now.
Athanasiou had drawn in for the injured Brendan Lemieux, who now finds himself on injured reserve. He was joined there by defenseman Mikey Anderson, who sustained an injury against Boston, returned, and then left the game anew. Winger Viktor Arvidsson was also injured, against Buffalo, and the lower-body issue that sidelined him against Boston may well keep him out of the match with San Jose. Winger Arthur Kaliyev could see a promotion in the lineup amid the shuffling of lines.
Athanasiou and Carl Grundstrom have been filling in, and Lias Andersson, who had been completing a conditioning stint in the minors, is now also an option for coach Todd McLellan, who exited COVID protocols and coached Monday. On defense, Jacob Moverare remained in the fold while Jordan Spence, who ranks second among American Hockey League defenseman in points and assists, was also recalled to bolster the blue line.
Moving pieces havent hindered the Kings this season, and their depth should only get stronger later this month. March 21 is the trade deadline, and they appear to be buyers. Theyll also get a boost without making a move when defenseman Alex Edler returns from a lower-body injury he sustained in December.
In the near term, theyll have to contend with the Sharks (24-25-7), who have not been part of the California resurgence that has seen the Kings and Ducks lift themselves up from the Pacific Division cellar. San Jose has lost three consecutive games and has won just two of its past 13 games, leaving them ahead of only the expansion Seattle Kraken.
Forward Timo Meier, who touched up the Kings for a staggering five goals in a 6-2 San Jose victory Jan. 17, leads the Sharks in scoring. That was the only other meeting between the teams this season, but they will face off three times in the next week.
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- Alexander: Kings in position to make a big move
- Kings avenge ugly loss, rally to beat Bruins in OT
- Kings shut out Sabres with spark from Athanasiou
- Kings wrap 4-game trip with back-to-back in Buffalo and Boston
- Alexander: The State of SoCal Sports, 2022
Forward Tomas Hertl ranks second in scoring for San Jose, and as a pending free agent could draw attention from suitors as the trade deadline nears, though the Sharks would prefer to extend his contract. Defenseman Brent Burns has turned in his most productive season on a per-game basis since the 2018-19 season, when he notched a career-high 83 points in 82 games.
San Jose at Kings
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Bally Sports West/iHeartRadio
https://www.dailynews.com/2022/03/09...ull-of-belief/