For the first time in a while, the Los Angeles Kings are making an unforced lineup change for their game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
For the first time in a while, the Los Angeles Kings are making an unforced lineup change for their game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
At morning skate, Kevin Fiala and Arthur Kaliyev swapped spots, meaning Fiala is with Phil Danault and Trevor Moore, and Kaliyev is with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Alex Laferriere.
Dubois and Fiala have struggled a bit for chemistry early on, so this change makes sense. Kaliyev loses out a bit in this scenario, and I have my concerns about a Kaliyev-Dubois-Laferriere line, but there are also reasons to be positive.
Dubois will have to step up as a play driver for that line and really carry the load.
This will also allow Fiala to control the puck more and drive a play on his own.
"I feel like I need the puck more," said Fiala. "I feel like I didn't have it that much, and I feel when I have it, I'm more dangerous. That's kind of what I do, that's my game. So, it's going to fit my game well with those two players."
The other change we saw was on the power play. On the first unit, Fiala was playing the tip of the umbrella with Drew Doughty playing the left flank.
In theory, this makes sense, it opens up a right shot for one-timers on the left flank, keeps the one-time threat on the right open, and gets your most creative passer more touches.
However, that's a lot of responsibility for Fiala who's made a habit of poor turnovers in his career.
It will be interesting to see if the Kings opt for this setup against an aggressive Flyer's penalty kill tonight.
Projected Los Angeles Kings Lines:
Forwards:
Quinton Byfield - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala - Phil Danault - Trevor Moore
Arthur Kaliyev - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Alex Laferriere
Carl Grundstrom - Blake Lizotte - Trevor Lewis
Defense:
Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
Vladislav Gavrikov - Matt Roy
Andreas Englund - Jordan Spence
Goalies:
Cam Talbot
Pheonix Copley
Projected Philadelphia Flyers Lines:
Forwards:
Owen Tippett - Noah Cates - Cam Atkinson
Joel Farabee - Scott Laughton - Bobby Brink
Travis Konecny - Morgan Frost - Tyson Foerster
Nicolas Deslauriers - Ryan Poehling - Garnet Hathaway
Defense:
Cam York - Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler - Sean Walker
Egor Zamula- Louie Belpedio
Goalies:
Cal Petersen
Sam Ersson