For the first time since returning to Australia, the Los Angeles Kings fielded an NHL roster versus an NHL roster against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
While it's important not to read too much into preseason games, meaning this game is much easier to evaluate than Tuesday's against the Anaheim Ducks.
Here are some takeaways from Thursday's game.
Kings' Top 9 Continue to Impress:
The big source of optimism for the Kings heading into this season is the strength of their top nine and they did not disappoint again on Thursday.
Seven of the nine players registered a point, everyone was a plus player and they controlled most of the possession.
Pierre-Luc Dubois and Kevin Fiala continued to develop more chemistry and Dubois grabbed his first goal in a Kings jersey.
Alex Laferriere, despite registering zero points, looked good on a line with Fiala and Dubois. Laferriere kept pace with those two which is a good sign.
The Phil Danault line was its usual, high-energy self. While the Kings' top line, driven by Anze Kopitar, was dominant once again.
If this game is any indication of how the Kings' top nine will look during the season, the Kings will win a lot of games.
Trevor Moore is Back:
This could have been a takeaway from any of the preseason games that Trevor Moore has featured in and he gets the nod after Thursday's game.
Todd McLellan said it in Australia and it's still true, Trevor Moore looks like Trevor Moore again and that's a good sign for the Kings.
He's clearly over the concussion issues that plagued him last season and looks revived right now.
Fast, intense and with underrated skill, Moore was a force against San Jose.
He got on the board with his second goal of the preseason and was strong on the penalty kill.
Heading into the first season of his contract extension, a strong season from Moore is key.
An Up & Down Game for Clarke:
Brandt Clarke was just okay on Thursday. He made a few nice plays on the puck, particularly on the power play, but also made a few mistakes in his own zone.
He finished the game with no points and four penalty minutes in what was a fairly mediocre performance.
There's certainly nothing to be worried about when it comes to Clarke, but Jordan Spence has to feel confident in taking that third-pair spot if Clarke continues that level of play.
Again, Clarke wasn't bad, but Spence has been good, maybe even great, this preseason.
One game won't determine who starts the season on the right side, and both player's ability to go down without waivers makes it easy for them to split time. But Spence has a strong claim to that spot on opening night.