Play Progress, Laferriere's Role + Kuemper To Start, Kopitar Ceremony, Suite Night Tonight!
Key Points:
- The Los Angeles Kings (30-26-18) will host the Nashville Predators (34-31-9) on April 2 at Crypto.com Arena, completing a back-to-back set following the Kings' overtime win the previous night.
- Darcy Kuemper is set to start in goal for the Kings, boasting an 8-2-5 record against Nashville with a .919 save percentage and four shutouts, while the Predators enter on a three-game losing streak starting a four-game California road trip.
- The Kings' power play, led by Artemi Panarin and emerging right-shot forward Alex Laferriere, has significantly improved since March 1, converting at over 24%, which could be pivotal in this key playoff race matchup.
- Tonight's game is crucial for both teams as they vie for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, with the Kings currently holding a slim one-point lead over Nashville and playoff odds hinging heavily on the outcome.
- The Kings will honor Anze Kopitar in a pre-game ceremony celebrating his 1,500-game milestone and status as the franchise's all-time leading scorer, marking a special moment as he approaches the final stretch of his career.