The Los Angeles Kings head into the second of a five-game road trip against the Detroit Red Wings.
LA are even on the road this season with an 11-11-5 record.
In their last eight games at home, Detroit went 7-1-0, averaging 3.88 GF/G in that span.
This is the second and final meeting between these teams during the 2024-25 NHL regular season. The Kings picked up a 4-1 win at home on November 16, 2024.
Since taking the job as Detroit's Head Coach, Todd McLellan has guided the Red Wings to a 10-4-1 record. As Head Coach of the Los Angeles Kings, McLellan went 164-130-44 in the regular season record, 5-8-0 in the postseason.
-"Good for him, I was happy for him! He's got a challenge there; that always happens when you take over, you've got a challenge. But, he'll do a good job, I know that." - LA Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller on Todd McLellan getting Head Coaching job with Detroit Red Wings, December 27, 2024
NOT YOUR TODDFATHER'S KINGS
The Kings have been playing a brand of hockey that is not only producing but is exciting to watch. McLellan — an X's and O's style coach — leaned heavy on the 1-3-1 neutral zone trap game while, offensively, dumping and chasing to keep the legs moving.
LA Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller has replaced the 1-3-1 with a 1-2-2 defensive approach, allowing for quick, offensive breakouts going the other way. Instead of dumping and chasing, LA are carrying the puck into the offensive zone, looking to retain possession as long as possible.
The Kings are well-aware of McLellan's coaching style and should be prepared to face whatever he throws at them.
However, McLellan is just as familiar with Hiller's tactics.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gCjASJzzUE[/embed]
McLellan isn't the only one coaching against his former team. Hiller had been an Assistant Coach in Detroit during the 2014-15 NHL season, and is a former Red Wings alumnus with eight points (2G, 6A) in twenty-one games played.
This is the first meeting between the two as Head Coaches. As an Assistant Coach with Detroit, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Islanders, Hiller has squared off against McLellan fourteen times. During that span, Hiller went 9-5-0, McLellan 5-8-1.
APPLE SEIDER
Through the first forty-nine games of the season, Red Wings Defenseman Moritz Seider has registered twenty-six assists — second on the team behind Forward Lucas Raymond.
Seider's twenty-six assists are tied for eighth-most amongst Defensemen league-wide (with Roman Josi and Dougie Hamilton).
CAPTAIN'S WINGS
In forty-six career games against the Red Wings, Kings Captain Anze Kopitar has recorded fifty-one points (19G, 32A) and a +5 rating.
Kopitar heads into this contest riding a three-game point streak against the Red Wings (4A), thirteen points in eight of their last ten meetings (5G, 8A).
Puck drop is slated for 4:05 PM PST. You can watch the game on television via the FanDuel Sports Network or listen live with the ESPN LA app.
Related Videos: LA Kings Weekly Preview