The Vancouver Canucks travel to face the Los Angeles Kings at crypto.com Arena on Saturday night, marking their first meeting this season. Both teams enter with injury challenges and recent losses, as Vancouver sits at 10-13-2 and Los Angeles at 11-6-7. Projected lineups highlight key players returning or potentially starting.
The Vancouver Canucks (10-13-2) will take on the Los Angeles Kings (11-6-7) at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, broadcast on FDSNW, KCAL, CITY, SN, TVAS and CBC. This matchup at crypto.com Arena follows Vancouver's 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Friday and Los Angeles' 5-4 shootout defeat to the Anaheim Ducks on the same night.
Canucks Projected Lineup
Vancouver skipped a morning skate but could start Kevin Lankinen in net after he missed the first two games of their four-game road trip for personal reasons. Nikita Tolopilo serves as backup. Forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki was recalled from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League, while goalie Jiri Patera was assigned to the AHL.
Forwards: Evander Kane — Elias Pettersson — Jake DeBrusk; Conor Garland — David Kampf — Brock Boeser; Drew O'Connor — Max Sasson — Kiefer Sherwood; Arshdeep Bains — Lukas Reichel — Linus Karlsson.
Defense: Quinn Hughes — Filip Hronek; Elias Pettersson — Tyler Myers; Marcus Pettersson — Tom Willander.
Scratched: P.O. Joseph, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Aatu Raty.
Injured: Thatcher Demko (lower body), Filip Chytil (concussion protocol), Teddy Blueger (lower body), Nils Hoglander (lower body), Derek Forbort (undisclosed).
Kings Projected Lineup
Los Angeles held an optional skate and is expected to use the same 18 skaters from Friday's game, though line adjustments are possible. Drew Doughty has resumed individual skating after a foot injury sustained on November 15 against the Ottawa Senators.
Forwards: Kevin Fiala — Quinton Byfield — Adrian Kempe; Alex Laferriere — Anze Kopitar — Trevor Moore; Joel Armia — Phillip Danault — Andrei Kuzmenko; Jeff Malott — Alex Turcotte — Corey Perry.
Defense: Mikey Anderson — Joel Edmundson; Brian Dumoulin — Brandt Clarke; Jacob Moverare — Cody Ceci.
Goalies: Anton Forsberg, Darcy Kuemper.
Scratched: Samuel Helenius.
Injured: Drew Doughty (lower body), Warren Foegele (upper body).