(SportsNetwork.com) – Jeff Carter and the red-hot Los Angeles Kings will take
aim at a seventh consecutive victory Tuesday when they kick off a road trip by
visiting the Philadelphia Flyers.
Carter and his linemates Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson have carried the
Kings on offense this season. The trio, who collectively are known as “That
70’s Line,” are the top three point earners for L.A. this season, with Carter
and Toffoli tied for the club lead with 12 points. Pearson has nine points and
is leading the team with seven goals.
On Tuesday, Carter, who was named the NHL’s most recent First Star of the
Week, hopes to continue his torrid pace against the team that drafted him and
fellow Kings forward Mike Richards in the first round of the 2003 draft.
The duo were part of four playoff runs in Philadelphia, including one to the
Stanley Cup Finals in 2010, before both were traded on June 23, 2011 — Carter
to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Richards to the Kings. Carter, of course, was
ultimately shipped from Columbus to L.A. during the 2011-12 campaign, and
along with Richards has helped the Kings win two of the last three Stanley Cup
titles. However, Richards only has two assists through eight games this
season.
Carter has a goal in two career games against his former team, while Richards
has a helper in three lifetime appearances versus the Flyers.
Carter and Toffoli each had a goal and three assists to help the Kings
conclude a perfect six-game homestand with Saturday’s 5-2 triumph over
Columbus. Pearson added a pair of goals to help the defending Stanley Cup
champion Kings finish off the first-ever 6-0-0 homestand in franchise history.
Dwight King also scored during a three-goal second period for Los Angeles that
supported a 22-save effort from Jonathan Quick. Quick expects to start tonight
and is 4-2-0 with a 1.69 goals against average in his career against the
Flyers.
“It was important to get the points tonight because we’re going on a tough
trip,” Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said.
L.A. is beginning a five-game road trip Tuesday. Sutter’s club lost its only
away game in 2014-15, dropping a 3-2 overtime decision against Arizona on Oct.
11.
The Kings hope forward Anze Kopitar can play tonight after leaving Saturday’s
game with an upper-body injury. Kopitar joined his team on the trip and is
questionable for Tuesday.
After losing its first four games of 2014-15, Philadelphia has responded with
three victories in its past four outings. The Flyers enter Tuesday on a two-
game winning streak and are coming off Saturday’s 4-2 home win over Detroit.
Michael Raffl scored twice in the third period and added one assist, helping
a badly outshot Philadelphia squad beat the visiting Red Wings.
“Those first two periods we were lucky to still be in the game,” Raffl stated.
“But in the third, we played outstanding. And at the end of the day, it’s all
about getting the win. And I think we found a way to win tonight.”
Nicklas Grossmann and Brayden Schenn posted markers with Jakub Voracek and
Michael Del Zotto totaling two helpers apiece for the Flyers, who picked up
their first win on home ice this year despite recording only 17 shots.
Philly is 1-1-2 at Wells Fargo Center this season and has lost its last three
home tests against the Kings. L.A. has won three of the last four meeting
overall.
Ray Emery won his second consecutive start with a 35-save performance and he
could get the start over Steve Mason again on Tuesday. Emery is 2-1-1 with a
1.70 GAA in six career games versus the Kings, while Mason is 6-7-0 with a
3.08 GAA in this matchup.
