I don't like to make a team game about a matchup of individuals, but tonight when the Kings visit the Senators, I think a lot of eyes will be on the duel between the reigning Norris Trophy winner, Drew Doughty, and the two time winner, who many felt was robbed by Doughty for a third, Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson's defensive game, whether forced by Guy Boucher's system or not, has taken another step forward this early season. He is leading the rush less which makes things a little less exciting, but still has 10 points in 13 games, slightly off his pace of last season. He finds himself in unfamiliar territory as he is not among the NHL's top ten scoring defensemen. However, he is +5. By contrast, Doughty has just six points in 14 games, and is a +2 as the Kings struggled early on in the wake of the injury to goalie Jonathan Quick.
Peter Budaj has emerged as the Kings #1 goalie in Quick's absence, posting a 7-4 record and adding two shutouts to go along with a sub 2.00 GAA in his 11 starts. Budaj was in goal last night for the Kings as they lost in Montreal, so he may get the night off in favor of Jeff Zatkoff.
Prior to the loss in Montreal, the Kings were on a three game winning streak that culminated in a 7-0 beatdown of the Leafs in Toronto. Ottawa will have to play better than they have been to avoid a similar fate, because despite winning on Wednesday in Buffalo, it could have easily gone the other way, especially since they were without their top 2 centres.
It also points to the lack of depth in the Senators lineup where I actually missed seeing Chris Neil take a fourth line shift. Neil is skating this morning in his fourth line spot, but Mike Blunden is still with the club so he may be a game time decision.
The lines have taken a bit of a different look once again as Boucher looks for offense. Mike Hoffman will be reunited with Derick Brassard and Bobby Ryan, while Kyle Turris will be between Ryan Dzingel and Tom Pyatt. That second group contains the three players who have been the team's best and most consistent forwards through 13 games this season. Once again the coach will attempt to recapture some magic from Mark Stone, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Zack Smith as he puts them together again.
With no word that he has taken a leave, it will be pretty safe to assume Craig Anderson will be back between the pipes for the Senators. Although he has lost his last two starts and Mike Condon has won his last two, neither one has gotten much goal support (1 regulation goal in each of their last five games).
It might be kind of misleading when you look at where these two teams sit in the standings (Ottawa 11th in the NHL with 16 points, LA 18th with 14 points). The Kings have been very streaky. They lost their first three games, followed that with a four game win streak, lost three, won three and then lost in Montreal. If you believe in that sort of thing, you would optimistically say they were going to lose again, but that is why they play the games on the ice and not on paper.