LOS ANGELES KINGS vs BUFFALO SABRES
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York

TV: 7:00 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: BUFFALO , LOS ANGELES

Oddsmakers currently have the LOS ANGELES listed as -1.5 moneyline favorites versus the BUFFALO, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

Despite Jack Eichel’s recent offensive surge, the Buffalo Sabres have gone without a victory since having their 10-game winning streak halted late in November. The Sabres attempt to end their five-game slide (0-3-2) when they continue a four-game homestand Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings.

Eichel has been a bright spot during Buffalo’s winless streak, recording four two-point performances – including two-goal efforts in each of the first two contests of the team’s stretch at KeyBank Center. The 22-year-old captain, who had gone seven games without a goal and notched just one in 16 contests before the outburst, is one away from joining Jeff Skinner as the only Sabres in double digits. Los Angeles’ four-game road trip got off to a rough start as it dropped a 3-1 decision in Detroit for its fifth defeat in seven overall contests. Captain Anze Kopitar scored late in the third period to avoid a shutout for the Kings, who have recorded a total of four goals during their three-game skid away from home.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, FS West (Los Angeles), MSG (Buffalo)

ABOUT THE KINGS (11-19-1): Kopitar’s goal against the Red Wings was his eighth of the season, tying him with Dustin Brown for the team lead and ending his seven-game drought. The 31-year-old Slovenian, who netted a career-high 35 tallies last season, needs two to reach 300 for his career. Brown has collected five goals and four assists over his last nine contests after helping set up Kopitar’s tally on Monday.

ABOUT THE SABRES (17-9-4): Buffalo hopes to start receiving scoring from other sources as the top line of Sam Reinhart (five), Eichel (four) and Skinner has recorded 10 of the team’s 12 goals over the last five games. Reinhart’s eruption has been a welcome one, however, as the 23-year-old – who had scored only three times in his first 25 contests this season – has collected five tallies and four assists during his career-high six-game point streak. The Sabres could use some help from their power play as well, as it has gone just 1-for-14 over the last six contests.

OVERTIME

1. Skinner has notched 30 points in as many games and is 19 away from matching his total over 82 contests with Carolina last season.

2. Los Angeles recalled D Sean Walker from Ontario of the American Hockey League prior to Monday’s game, but the 24-year-old was a healthy scratch.

3. Buffalo G Carter Hutton (upper body) has been on the ice two straight days and is expected to return to action this week.

PREDICTION: Sabres 3, Kings 2

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CAROLINA HURRICANES vs LOS ANGELES KINGS 
When: 10:30 PM  ET, Sunday, December 2, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:35 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES , CAROLINA

Oddsmakers currently have the CAROLINA listed as -145-moneyline favorites versus the LOS ANGELES, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

The NHL-worst Los Angeles Kings showed a brief spark with wins last Sunday and Tuesday, but enter a four-game homestand Sunday against the surging Carolina Hurricanes off back-to-back frustrating defeats. The Kings gave up the winning goal with 2:20 left Thursday in a 3-2 loss at Edmonton before mustering only 14 shots overall and giving up three tallies in the third period of a 4-1 setback at Calgary on Friday.

“They’re really disappointed after a loss, and they’re on edge and not happy about our (game) and that’s how it should be. … but in saying that it’s a challenge,” Los Angeles coach Willie Desjardins told reporters after Friday’s loss. “It’s a challenge every night. This is a good team, and we knew that. We were going to have to have our best effort to win.” The Kings must come up with a better performance against the Hurricanes, who have points in eight of their last 10 contests (6-2-2). Carolina, which sat in a playoff spot entering the weekend, went 0-of-6 on the power play Friday and coughed up the tying goal with less than four minutes left in regulation before allowing Ryan Getzlaf to score the winner in overtime of a 2-1 setback. “They got a lucky goal to tie it up. That’s really what that was,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour told reporters. “Then their skill player took over at the end.”

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Carolinas, FS West (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (12-9-4): Leading scorer Sebastian Aho (26 points) was moved from center to left wing Friday, skating with veteran Jordan Staal and Teuvo Teravainen (18 points), and registered six shots along with an assist. “(Staal) is such a good two-way center, so maybe that leaves more offense to me,” Aho told the Raleigh News & Observer. “Obviously I want to be a good two-way forward still, and good in our end.” Leading goal scorer Micheal Ferland (11) missed Friday’s contest with a concussion and is questionable for the first contest of a three-game west coast trip.

ABOUT THE KINGS (9-16-1): Captain Anze Kopitar was kept off the scoresheet Friday, but recorded three goals and eight assists over the last eight games to lead the team in points with 17. Left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, who has not posted a point in his last 11 games, missed Friday’s contest with an ankle infection and Desjardins told reporters: “It’s something that flared up, and it’s hard to say how long that will take (to heal).” Goalie Jonathan Quick, who stopped 31-of-34 shots Thursday in his first game back after missing more than a month with a knee injury, will likely be in net Sunday.

OVERTIME

1. Carolina G Curtis McElhinney (7-2-1, 2.10 goals-against average) is 4-0-1 with a .961 save percentage in his last five games.

2. Los Angeles RW Dustin Brown registered five of his team-leading eight goals in his last four contests.

3. The Hurricanes are 13-of-13 and the Kings 9-of-17 on the penalty kill over their last six games.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 3, Kings 2

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LOS ANGELES KINGS vs CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
When: 8:30 PM  ET, Friday, November 16, 2018
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8:35 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , LOS ANGELES

Oddsmakers currently have the LOS ANGELES listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks alternated hoisting the Stanley Cup over a four-year period from 2012-2015, but the main thing the clubs have in common this season is that each has already fired its head coach. Fresh off snapping an eight-game losing streak and giving new coach Jeremy Colliton his first victory, Chicago will host the Kings on Friday night.

Offense has been a struggle for both teams as Chicago scored only 14 goals during its eight-game slide and halted the swoon with a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night. “This group needed some good things to happen,” Colliton told reporters. “They needed it. They need some reinforcement that the sun’s coming up on this.” What started as a promising seven-game homestand ended with three straight losses for Los Angeles, which was outscored 9-2 during the skid. Tuesday’s 5-1 setback to Toronto marked the eighth time in the last 15 games that the Kings have been limited to one goal or fewer.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FS West (Los Angeles), NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE KINGS (5-11-1): Things could not look much bleaker for Los Angeles, which is scoring a league-worst 2.0 goals per game and is down to its No. 3 goaltender due to injuries. Peter Budaj made his first start and second appearance of the season against Toronto and lasted fewer than five minutes into the second period before he was yanked in favor of Calvin Petersen, who stopped 15 of 16 shots in his NHL debut. Friday’s game could mark the Kings debut of speedy forward Carl Hagelin, who was acquired from Pittsburgh earlier this week in exchange for Tanner Pearson.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (7-8-4): Chicago needed a big performance from someone to end its slide and Corey Crawford responded by turning aside all 28 shots he faced to register his first shutout in just over a year. Crawford, who posted his 24th career shutout, did not play after Christmas last season due to a concussion and did not return to the lineup until the sixth game this year. “We’re feeling good right now. We’re getting used to the systems and playing better with it,” said Crawford, who is 9-5-1 with a 2.65 goals-against average and one shutout versus the Kings.

OVERTIME

1. Blackhawks F Patrick Kane has 12 goals and 35 points in 36 games versus Los Angeles.

2. Kings D Dion Phaneuf had an assist Tuesday to halt his 16-game season-opening point drought.

3. Los Angeles (8-for-56) and Chicago (8-for-58) rank in the bottom five in the league on the power play.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Kings 1

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MINNESOTA WILD vs LOS ANGELES KINGS
When: 10:30 PM  ET, Thursday, November 8, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:35 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES , MINNESOTA

Oddsmakers currently have the MINNESOTA listed as -110-moneyline favorites versus the LOS ANGELES, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

The Los Angeles Kings bid for a bit of payback from the Minnesota Wild on Thursday when the clubs meet at Staples Center. The Wild pushed the then-spiraling Kings’ losing skid to six games with a 4-1 decision on Oct. 25, with Los Angeles announcing a head coaching change four days later.

Minnesota had won seven of eight overall before losing 4-3 to San Jose on Tuesday to fall to 2-2-0 on its seven-game road trip. Matt Dumba pushed his point streak to three games with a goal in the third period for the Wild, who have received an NHL second-best 14 tallies from their blue-liners this season. The Kings answered their loss in Minnesota with wins in three of their last four outings, including two in a row since Willie Desjardins replaced John Stevens as the team’s bench boss. “It was a wakeup call for everybody,” said veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who leads the team in goals (five) and points (14) and shares top honors in assists with defenseman Drew Doughty. “We’re taking responsibility for what happened, and we’re responding to it. We looked in the mirror, and we all know we can do a better job.”

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota), Sportsnet, FS West (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE WILD (8-4-2): Veteran Eric Staal could be in line to miss his second straight game as he fell victim to illness shortly after scoring his 400th career goal in St. Louis on Saturday. “To me, he’d have to feel really good (Wednesday night) and have a real good morning skate to feel strong enough to go, so I would say he’s questionable,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. Mikael Granlund, who is tied with Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter with a team-best 13 points, scored a goal against Los Angeles as part of an impressive 10-game point streak that came to a halt at San Jose.

ABOUT THE KINGS (5-8-1): Kovalchuk recorded his third multi-point performance in four outings on Tuesday as he scored a goal and set up two others for Los Angeles, which skated to a win in the first installment of the Freeway Face-Off with a 4-1 triumph over Anaheim. Fellow forward Dustin Brown, who was the Kings’ second-leading scorer last season, has scored three goals and set up two others in four games since returning from a broken finger that he sustained in the preseason. Jeff Carter pushed his point total to five in his last three outings with an assist on Brown’s first-period power-play goal.

OVERTIME

1. Los Angeles has scored a power-play goal in four straight games and killed off all 17 short-handed situations over its last five.

2. The Wild have secured a point in 10 of their last 11 encounters (6-1-4) with the Kings.

3. Los Angeles LW Kyle Clifford scored against Anaheim as well as the first meeting with Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Wild 3, Kings 2

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LOS ANGELES vs CHICAGO
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Sunday, December 3, 2017
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FSN West (Los Angeles), NBCSN Chicago
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Kings 3

Oddsmakers currently have the LOS ANGELES listed as -120-moneyline favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Kings will go for their fifth win in a row when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday evening at the United Center.

Los Angeles (16-8-3) paces the Pacific Division of the Western Conference with 35 points.

The Kings have outscored opponents 15-5 during their four-game winning streak, and their plus-22 goal differential on the season ranks first in the conference and second in the NHL behind the Tampa Bay Lightning (plus-28).

Yet Kings players know that a road win in the Windy City will not come easily.

“We always come here, it’s always intense,” Kings veteran forward Anze Kopitar told the team’s official website. “The building, it’s very loud. You’ve got to make sure that we’re ready right from the get-go because we all know they can score goals if you let them play their game. So we’ll go out there and compete and see what happens.”

Chicago (12-9-5) is winless in its past three games but has one point in each of its past two contests with an overtime loss and a shootout loss in a home-and-home series against the Dallas Stars. The Blackhawks will play on short rest after a 4-3 setback in the shootout round Saturday night in Dallas.

The Blackhawks return home without the services of top-tier goaltender Corey Crawford, who was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least a week because of a lower-body injury. While Crawford is out, Anton Forsberg will serve the role as No. 1 goaltender, and the team recalled Jean-Francois Berube from the AHL to be the backup.

Forsberg started Saturday but told reporters that he could start back-to-back games if that is what the team wants. In eight games (six starts), he is 1-2-3 with a 3.34 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. The 25-year-old never has faced the Kings in his career.

Berube, 26, could make his season debut if coach Joel Quenneville decides to rest Forsberg. Berube was 6-6-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .913 save percentage for Rockford of the AHL.

In 21 career games — all with the New York Islanders — Berube is 6-4-3 with a 3.11 GAA and .900 save percentage. He posted a victory in his only career appearance against the Kings as he stopped 34 shots.

Berube signed with Chicago this season and was sent to Rockford after losing out to Forsberg for a roster spot.

“It was good to play on a consistent basis,” Berube said to the Chicago Sun-Times. “For me, that was the most important thing, (after) not playing much the past two years. I wanted to get more games and get my game habits back. It’s one thing to practice, but when game time comes, it’s a whole different game. I feel comfortable with my game right now and I’m trying to push it forward.”

Veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick is expected to make his 22nd start of the season for the Kings. Quick is 12-8-1 with a 2.27 GAA and .929 save percentage this season. In 26 career games against the Blackhawks, he is 10-15-1 with a 2.71 GAA and .910 save percentage.

Chicago is 6-4-2 at home this season; Los Angeles is 9-3-1 on the road.

This marks the first of three regular-season meetings.

STATS AND RECORDS

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LOS ANGELES vs WASHINGTON
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Thursday, November 30, 2017
Where: Captial One Arena, Washington, District of Columbia

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), NBCSN Washington
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Kings 2

Oddsmakers currently have the LOS ANGELES listed as 105-moneyline favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

WASHINGTON — Two teams in midst of mild resurgences will see who gets to extend theirs on Thursday night when the Washington Capitals host the Los Angeles Kings.

OVERTIME

1. Washington’s Braden Holtby will get the nod at home, where he ranks first in save percentage (.927) and third in goals-against average (2.13) among NHL goaltenders with at least 100 such starts since 2010-11.

2. Los Angeles D Drew Doughty has set up four goals during his three-game assist streak and has seven points (one goal, six assists) in his past seven contests.

3. Kuznetsov (team-leading 26 points) has been held off the scoresheet in three of his last four games.

The well-rested Capitals (14-10-1) won their third straight game on Saturday in Toronto, with all three coming since coach Barry Trotz reunited captain Alex Ovechkin with center Nicklas Backstrom on the top line.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (14-10-1): T.J. Oshie set up three goals at Toronto on Saturday and has five assists in his last three games as the United States Olympic hero is off to his best start to a season in his career. The 30-year-old scored a goal in both games versus Los Angeles last season after recording five assists in his previous five career meetings. Fellow forward Nicklas Backstrom has set up four goals during his three-game point streak, with his 16 assists this season trailing only Evgeny Kuznetsov for the team lead.

The Kings kicked off a four-game road trip with their second straight win, a 4-1 decision over the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night.

Captain Anze Kopitar scored twice, including the eventual game-winner, and added an assist. The Kings (14-8-3) scored three goals in a 3 1/2-minute span bridging the second and third periods.

ABOUT THE KINGS (14-8-3): Jonathan Quick has rebounded from a disastrous six-start losing skid, answering his .899 save percentage in that span by turning aside 48 of 50 shots in the last two contests. The 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy recipient and two-time Stanley Cup winner has flustered Washington in his career with wins in seven of nine starts while posting a .915 save percentage. Former captain Dustin Brown has scored in back-to-back games to give him 10 goals in 25 games this season, putting him on pace to obliterate his previous totals in the last three campaigns (11, 11, 14).

Kopitar leads the team with 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points. He reached 12 goals in his 25th contest, as opposed to 76 games last season when he finished with 12 goals and 52 points.

“I’m feeling good this year, and maybe that’s the biggest reason,” Kopitar told the Los Angeles Times. “I’m feeling, obviously, confident again. I guess a big part of it is confidence too, and having a good start, myself and the team, so it makes it a lot more fun.”

Jonathan Quick made 23 saves, including phenomenal efforts on Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist in the decisive second period.

“Some goalies are really good goalies, but to make key saves at key times, he’s as good as there is,” Kings coach John Stevens told the Times.

Quick is 11-8-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage this season. Against the Capitals in his career, Quick owns a 7-2-0 mark with a 2.39 GAA and .915 save percentage.

He’ll be tested Thursday night by a Washington team that has scored 12 goals in its last three games.

Since re-joining Backstrom, Ovechkin has five goals — including one on a power play. Backstrom recorded an assist on four of the five, including two on Saturday at Toronto when Ovechkin had a hat trick. The most recent goal marked the 222nd time Backstrom assisted on an Ovechkin goal since Backstrom joined the league in the 2007-08 season

Rounding out the new top line is winger Tom Wilson, known more for his physical play than his scoring.

“Nicky complements (Ovechkin) very well and O complements Nicky very well,” Wilson told the Washington Post. “So, my job is not to mess with that, just to kind of keep it simple and do my thing and create space and create energy.”

Washington is also getting healthier. Forward Tyler Graovac (upper body) played his first NHL game since Oct. 17 against Toronto. Defenseman Christian Djoos practiced Monday and is nearing a return and forward Andre Burakovsky is slated to return in mid-December, meaning the team has some roster choices to make.

“To me, it’s all about competition,” coach Barry Trotz told NBC Sports Washington. “You have to make the decision for the group, not the individual. When it comes to who you’re putting in and out of the lineup, it’s all about the group.”

The Capitals have won three straight home games against the Kings.

Goalie Braden Holtby is 1-1-1 with a 2.33 GAA and .930 save percentage versus the Kings. Ovechkin has five goals and eight assists in 15 games against Los Angeles.

Kopitar has nine goals and five assists in 14 games versus Washington.

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NY ISLANDERS vs LOS ANGELES
When: 10:30 PM  ET, Sunday, October 15, 2017
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), FSN West (Los Angeles)
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: Kings 4, Islanders 1

Oddsmakers currently have the NY ISLANDERS listed as 125-moneyline favorites versus the LOS ANGELES, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

LOS ANGELES — The New York Islanders will attempt to end their lone West Coast road trip on a winning note when they face the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on Sunday.

New York (2-2-1) is in the midst of a challenging schedule with five of its first seven games away from Brooklyn’s Barclay Center and are in a stretch of 13 of 15 games against Western Conference opponents.

They conclude their road swing against a more familiar foe — the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

OVERTIME

1. Kings D Oscar Fantenberg notched an assist against Buffalo for his first point in four career contests.

2. Islanders C John Tavares has been kept off the scoresheet in four of his five games this season, including each of the last three.

3. Los Angeles LW Kyle Clifford (upper body) was placed on injured reserve while D Paul LaDue was assigned to Ontario of the American Hockey League.

Both teams are playing the back end of consecutive games. The Islanders defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 while the Kings used a decisive third period power-play goal from Drew Doughty in a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

Thomas Griess came up big for the Islanders by stopping 40 San Jose shots, including 29 in the final two periods. Brock Nelson scored the decisive goal in the second period and Cal Clutterbuck added an empty-net goal to support Griess’ second victory of the season.

“We bent, but we didn’t break,” Islanders coach Doug Weight said. “We needed some big saves from Thomas and he was great in net.”

Nelson like the way his team responded after a 3-2 loss in Anaheim on Wednesday.

“It was a good road win for us,” Nelson said. “Greiss played well and made a lot of big saves. It is a good bounce back from Anaheim and it is nice to come out on top.”

Los Angeles (3-0-1) has taken advantage of a friendly schedule that keeps them in California until its Oct. 21 matchup at Columbus. The Kings will play the second of eight consecutive games against the Eastern Conference.

The three power-play goals they registered in the Buffalo win were their first of the season after starting the season on an 0-for-16 run.

The fast start is rare for the Kings. It is the first time since 1995-96 they have registered points in each of their first four games.

“It’s important. We think you’ve got to get seven points a segment if you’re going to be in the playoff hunt,” Kings coach John Stevens said. “To get points early in the season, it doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, those points are extremely important, especially when you’ve got some new people here, you’ve got some young guys in our lineup, you want to get off to a good start, get some points in the bank and hopefully build a little confidence in the group, so I think it’s extremely important.”

Doughty agreed with Stevens that a strong start is important to a team that has missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons.

“We want to start the season off right,” Doughty said. “Right now, if we had lost the first three games or lost a couple of them, the mood in the room wouldn’t be where it is right now. We are at a high right now.

“We are really confident in each other and in the team, and we just feel good about ourselves. That all changes if we start losing, so we got to keep pushing forward and keep winning, and we are going to continue having fun if we win.”

Dustin Brown continued his strong start against Buffalo registering a power-play goal for his fourth tally in four games. After scoring only 25 goals in the past two regular seasons, Stevens has made Brown a fixture on a wing for Anze Kopitar and the partnership has paid off.

“Brown has been terrific. He’s getting back to his power game,” Stevens said. “We’re trying to make that a part of our identity as a hockey team and he’s leading the charge. He likes being there.

“The defensemen were shooting pucks and he stood down there in front of the net tipping pucks for a good five or 10 minutes at the end of practice today. He understands the value of being there, he wants to be the guy there, and I think it’s a great example for everybody else to kind of lead the charge of getting more people to the front of the net.”

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St. Louis Blues vs Los Angeles Kings
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, January 12, 2017
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, Sportsnet360, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PREDICTION: Kings 2, Blues 1

Oddsmakers currently have the ST LOUIS listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the LOS ANGELES, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.

LOS ANGELES — The St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings meet Thursday at Staples Center as both attempt to get back on track after poor home performances in their previous contests. The game is second of their three-game season series, with the Blues capturing a 1-0 victory on Oct. 29 with Jaden Schwartz scoring the lone goal.

The Blues (21-16-5) ended a six-game home stand on a sour note with a 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. They posted a 3-3-0 record on the stand and have played mediocre hockey since early December, going 7-8-2 since Dec. 3 primarily due to poor defensive play and goaltending (24 goals against in their last 7 games).

The Los Angeles game is the start of a three-game California road trip that includes visits to Anaheim and San Jose and concludes Sunday as the team tries to find consistency in their play.

“We win one and then we get away from our game,” said captain Alex Pietrangelo after the Boston loss. “Mentally, we were ready to play from the start. I think we’re making bad decisions with the puck and other teams are taking advantage of it.”

St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock pointed to starting goaltender Jake Allen’s struggles as an additional reason for the team’s recent play. Allen was pulled in the Boston loss after surrendering three goals on 11 shots and is feeling the pressure as the number one goaltender after Brian Elliott was dealt to Calgary in the offseason. His .904 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-against average are career-worst numbers.

“He’s not stopping the puck right now,” said Hitchcock. “Probably some of it is confidence, for him it the first time that things have not gone smoothly in his career, he’s going to have to battle like the rest of us. We can help out too by playing better in front of him.”

The Kings (20-17-4) have similar challenges, losing two of their first three games of a seven-game home stand to sub-.500 teams, the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars. In their 6-4 loss to Dallas Monday, Los Angeles had poor performances from their defense (Alec Martinez and Jake Muzzin registered -4 ratings) and goaltending (Peter Budaj surrendered 5 goals on 22 shots before being pulled in the third period) continuing a long stretch of inconsistent play.

Since Dec. 1, the Kings have an 8-7-3 record as they continue to struggle to produce offensive consistently. Their 102 goals rank third worst in the Western Conference, only ahead of the cellar-dwelling Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche. Only 2017 All-Star Game selection Jeff Carter (22 goals) and Tanner Pearson (11 goals) have registered double-digit goals and speculation has surfaced that the organization is pursuing trade options to prop up its floundering offense.

“Jeff Carter has been carrying this team and it seems if he doesn’t get a goal no one steps up and fills that void,” said forward Jordan Nolan. “We win two, win three, then lose two, lose three. It’s starting to get a little old. We’re starting to get to crunch time here.”

Since winning Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014, every season holds high expectations for Los Angeles and, with them presently outside the top three Pacific Division qualifiers for an automatic playoff qualification, the sense of urgency around the team is dialing up during this home stand. They have a solid 12-6-1 home record and the importance of finishing this stretch of home game strong with nine road games in their next 10 games following their Jan. 18 game against the San Jose Sharks.

“We have to put a stretch of wins together,” said captain Anze Kopitar. “We still have four game at home, so we have to make sure we take care of business. We’re not as nearly consistent as we need to be.”

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Carolina Hurricanes vs Los Angeles Kings
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, December 8, 2016
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN Carolinas, FSN West (Los Angeles)
PREDICTION: Kings 3, Hurricanes 1

LOS ANGELES — After a three-day break, the Los Angeles Kings will try to make their way back to the winners’ circle as they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday at Staples Center.

The Kings have been off since Sunday, when they were dealt a 5-4 loss in a shootout by the Montreal Canadiens. The Kings (13-10-2) were 5-0 in extra periods before Sunday’s setback.

Six of the game’s goals, a season-tying four by the Kings, occurred in the second period and allowed Los Angeles to grab a 4-3 advantage before fading in the end. Nick Shore and Trevor Lewis also tallied for the Kings.

“The pucks were just going in; I don’t know why that was,” said Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, who scored on a power play during the barrage and earned his second multi-point game of the season. “Both teams were flying and a couple times we got the lead and let them back in it and that was our downfall. When you get the lead, you want to get the next goal right away and kind of carry it away from them, but they were able to capitalize pretty quick after we got the lead.”

Center Jeff Carter, who scored a power-play goal against the Canadiens, continued his hot streak for the Kings, who have captured six of their last eight contests. Carter remains the club’s points leader with 21 (11 goals, 10 assists) and has been a steady force behind the team’s recent fortunes along with linemates Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson.

Center Anze Kopitar, who recorded three assists in the setback to the Canadiens, defenseman Alec Martinez, and Toffoli all have produced 14 points for the Kings.

Kopitar, who has a club-high 12 assists, is two shy of 700 for his career. He also remains a goal away from tying Wayne Gretzky for sixth on the Kings’ all-time list with 245.

The Hurricanes (10-10-6) are playing the second end of a back-to-back. The Hurricanes dropped a disappointing 6-5 shootout decision to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center.

Carolina held a 5-3 lead in the final five minutes of regulation before allowing Anaheim to score a pair of goals within 91 seconds of each other to force the extra sessions.

Anaheim’s Nick Ritchie delivered his sixth goal by redirecting a slap shot by Cam Fowler from the blue line with 3:59 remaining. With 2:28 left, Corey Perry ended a drought of 18 consecutive games by scoring his fifth goal on a shot from the right circle to knot the score at 5.

“They worked their way through the neutral zone on us way too easy,” Hurricanes defenseman Ron Hainsey said. “Two of the goals were right off the rush, and the other one was tipped in.

“We do a really good job most of the time of clogging up the neutral zone and not giving up anything. But we got a little too free-flowing through the neutral zone and gave up some chances.”

The Hurricanes have lost six of their last eight games. Before their loss to the Ducks, Carolina scored no more than two goals in each of their previous seven road games.

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San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings
When: 10:30 PM ET, Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their season-high five-game winning streak in another encounter with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night at Staples Center.

The Kings, who have won six in a row at home, will face the Sharks for the first time at Staples since San Jose bounced them from the opening round of last season’s playoffs. The Sharks defeated the Kings 2-1 in the season opener on Oct. 12 at San Jose.

“They beat us the first game of the year, so it’s time that we owe them,” said Kings center Tyler Toffoli, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Kings (12-9-1) have been off since Saturday, when they recorded a 2-1 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples. Carter scored the game-winner, his league-leading sixth such goal of the season, at 1:06 of the extra session.

Carter is on a roll. He leads the Kings in points (19) and goals (10) and is tied for tops in assists (nine). Carter has five goals and three assists in the past five games.

“Carter is playing very good right now, he’s working hard and he is a veteran player,” Kings goalie Peter Budaj said. “He has done it for many years, he knows what to do. He doesn’t get too high or too low. He has to stick to the system and wait for his opportunity.”

Budaj believes the Kings are thriving with contributions from several players. He could include himself, as he has 12 wins in 18 starts this season since taking over as the regular. He replaced Jonathan Quick, who is out indefinitely after sustaining a groin injury in the opener against the Sharks.

“It is a combination of everybody, and I think the power play in OT (against the Blackhawks) was moving the puck really well and recovering after the blocks,” Budaj said. “It goes hand in hand, but it’s a team effort to get a chance to win every night.”

In addition to Carter, solid performances from Alec Martinez and Toffoli are boosting the Kings. Martinez and Toffoli are tied for second with 14 points each (five goals, nine assists). Martinez scored his fifth goal, tops among Los Angeles defenseman, against the Blackhawks.

Toffoli recorded a point in four of the past five contests.

The Sharks (13-9-1) are playing the second end of a back-to-back. San Jose seized the top spot in the Pacific Division by a point over the Anaheim Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers when they earned a 2-1 decision in overtime against the visiting Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.

Defenseman Brent Burns scored a power-play goal just 19 seconds into the extra frame. The Sharks won four of five during their just-completed homestand.

It was the first time they defeated the Coyotes in three tries this season.

“They’re just tough games,” Burns said. “We haven’t really found the points from that team this year. I mean, every game is going to be tough. They’re no different.”

Burns has a team-high nine goals this season. He and center Joe Pavelski have a club-best 21 points apiece. Pavelski and center Logan Couture both have seven goals.

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