((Podcast producer and Fischler Report writer Glenn Dreyfuss handled the preview portion))
Despite playing in the same Pacific Division, the Canucks and L.A. Kings have only met once this season. Vancouver defeated L.A. 4-1 at Rogers Arena on December 3, behind two goals each from Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson. The win extended Vancouver’s recent domination of the series to 8-0-2 in the last 10 games.
Tonight in Los Angeles, the Canucks and Kings begin making up for lost time with three meetings in the next 23 days. Both teams are riding hot streaks: the Canucks are 7-3-0 in their last 10, the Kings 8-1-1.
Also looking to stay hot are Vancouver’s Petterson, with 19 points in his last 13 games, and Boeser, with seven in his last seven. Andrei Kuzmenko has been on fire, registering 12 goals and 5 assists for 17 points in his last 14 games. Kuzmenko owns a 28% shooting percentage, best in the NHL. The Kings currently sit second in the Pacific with 89 points, while Vancouver is 6th with 63. The difference isn’t offense; the teams have scored almost the identical number of goals. However, there is a wide defensive gap. The Canucks rank 30th in goals against (3.78) and last on the penalty kill (68.2%). L.A. is 17th in GAA (3.22) and 22nd on the kill (76.2%).
It should be Joonas Korpisalo vs Thatcher Demko between the pipes.
Canucks Division
Speaking of the Pacific, even though Vancouver doesn’t factor in, it is getting pretty entertaining near the top. The Kings enter action Saturday just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first place.
In the head-to-head battle for 3rd place at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, the OIlers handled the Kraken with a 6-4 win and moved three points ahead. Seattle remained in the 1st wild card spot for now.
The Winnipeg Jets started Saturday with a five point cushion for the 2nd Western Conference wild card spot.
— Puck drop Saturday evening for the Canucks at Kings is a little after 7 pm pacific.
