Leafs hope to exploit struggling Kings
Kasperi Kapanen opened and closed the scoring for the Maple Leafs a month ago when the sluggish-looking Los Angeles Kings were beaten 4-1 in Toronto. That’s when Kapanen was still playing with a healthy Auston Matthews. Even with Matthews out with a shoulder injury, Kapanen’s speed figures to wreak havoc for the Kings. Anze Kopitar, the Selke Trophy winner, will likely see time against Kapanen’s new centre, Nazem Kadri, as well as John Tavares when the Leafs and Kings renew hostilities Tuesday in Los Angeles. The Kings are last in the NHL with a dismal 5-10-1 record. The Leafs, meanwhile, sit second in the Atlantic Division at 11-6. Here are five things to watch for Tuesday:
1 Discord in the kingdom
Toronto can take advantage of a last-place team still finding its way after firing coach John Stevens in favour of Willie Desjardins. L.A. is ending a seven-game home stand, where it hoped to kick-start things under the new bench boss, but scored only five goals in three games.
2 No soup for you
First Jonathan Quick was hurt. Now it’s Jack Campbell — with a .923 save percentage — out four to six weeks with a knee injury, leaving the Kings in a goaltending quandary. Little-used veteran Peter Budaj is next in line, while Cal Petersen, a free agent from Notre Dame, has been called up. Meanwhile, Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen is 7-1-0-2 against the Kings.
3 First things first
A heavy first-period shot barrage in Boston did not result in a goal and the resulting frustration seeped into the Leafs locker-room Saturday. An early goal — Kapanen leads the team with three in the first frame this year — would help.
4 No doubting Doughty
Defenceman Drew Doughty came into the October meeting in Toronto with all kinds of publicity as the would-be Leaf who elected to stay in L.A., and then had what he called a miserable evening. He’s dedicating himself to a better showing Tuesday, no matter what the rest of the Kings do.
5 Circle the wagon
Desjardins talked about sacrificing the Kings’ reliable defence for offence after the 1-0 loss to Calgary, but had to back track Monday as he expects Toronto to come hard after Budaj.