Music: {allcanada} KINGS (15-9-5) at CANADIENS (18-10-2)

Thursday, December 11, 2014

{allcanada} KINGS (15-9-5) at CANADIENS (18-10-2)

Christmas - Michael Bublé / Elf (2003) / Scrooged

Friday, December 12, 2014

7:30 PM ET

KINGS (15-9-5) at CANADIENS (18-10-2)

TV: RDS, SNE, KCOP-13

Season series: The Los Angeles Kings swept two games against the Montreal Canadiens last season, outscoring the Canadiens 8-1. Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez and forwards Anze Kopitar and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and two assists; defenseman Jake Muzzin scored two goals.

Kings team scope: Los Angeles broke out of a two-game skid during which it scored one goal with a 5-3 win at the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Muzzin had three assists. The Kings bounced back from a sluggish first period in which they were outshot 14-5, and they had quick responses after Ottawa forward Mark Stone's shorthanded goal tied the game 2-2 early in the third and when their two-goal lead was cut to one with 1:21 left in the game. "I think there [were] two or three times during the game where we had good responses," coach Darryl Sutter said. "After the first period we did. I think after that [shorthanded] goal we did. After they score when [Kyle Clifford] breaks his stick, score the empty-net goal. You've got to respond. It's not clear sailing or easy sailing." Los Angeles has split the first two games of its five-game road trip.

Canadiens team scope: Montreal is 2-3-0 this month after its 3-1 victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Defenseman P.K. Subban sat out practice Thursday because of the flu. Center Lars Eller is expected to miss another two weeks because of an upper-body injury sustained Dec. 5 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Rookie forward Sven Andrighetto has two points in his first two NHL games, including the primary assist on Tomas Plekanec's game-winning goal against the Canucks. "He's a skilled guy. He can make plays. He can pass the puck. He's also really good with the puck on his stick," Plekanec said of the 21-year-old, according to the Canadiens website. "His hockey sense is there too. All of those things are at a really good level already, and he's still so young." Andrighetto scored Saturday against the Dallas Stars in his first NHL game.

Team Stats