The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] are coming off a big 3-2 shootout win against the Nashville Predators, and they look to win 3 straight. On the other hand, the Vancouver Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks] are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights and are currently on a 3-game losing streak. The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] are looking to give the Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks] their 4th straight loss tonight, as a win today would guarantee that the Kings remain at least 1 point back of the Predators for the final wildcard spot. PROJECTED KINGS LINES Here are the projected lines for the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] tonight: Artemi Panarin - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Alex Laferriere Joel Armia - Scott Laughton - Jared Wright Jeff Malott - Samuel Helenius - Taylor Ward Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci Anton Forsberg Darcy Kuemper PROJECTED CANUCKS LINES Here are the projected lines for the Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks] tonight: Drew O’Connor - Elias Pettersson - Jake DeBrusk Liam Ohgren - Marco Rossi - Brock Boeser Max Sasson - Teddy Blueger - Linus Karlsson Curtis Douglas - Aatu Raty - Nils Hoglander Zeev Buium - Filip Hronek Marcus Pettersson - Tom Willander Elias Pettersson - Victor Mancini Nikita Tolopilo Jiri Patera INJURIES AND LINE CHANGES The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] will still be without Alex Turcotte (undisclosed) and Andrei Kuzmenko (meniscus), and they have elected to scratch Mathieu Joseph and Jacob Moverare for tonight's matchup. The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] are likely to start Anton Forsberg tonight, and the Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks] are likely to start Nikita Tolopilo. KEY FACTORS One factor in tonight's game is goaltending: Forsberg has posted a save percentage above .920 in his last 4 games, and if he continues to play like this, it could be a factor in the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] sneaking into the playoffs. Another way is, once again, the duo of Kempe and Panarin, who have been incredible for the Kings and a major bright spot on the offence. The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings]' depth has also stepped up recently as Joel Armia and Scott Laughton found the back of the net.While this game is against the Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks], the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] have to make sure to take care of business. If the Predators win and the Kings lose, the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] will be 2 games back with only 4 games remaining, so every game is more important as the season continues. If the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] play as they have been, they will walk away with a win and 2 points. My prediction for tonight's game against the Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks] is a 4-1 Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] win.
