Los Angeles Kings Face Off Against San Jose Sharks in Preseason Showdown

In their penultimate preseason game, the Los Angeles Kings are headed to Salt Lake City, Utah, to face off against the San Jose Sharks. One of the key highlights for fans is the new lineup, with Alex Laferriere joining forces with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Kevin Fiala, taking Arthur Kaliyev’s place due to suspension.

While it’s doubtful that Laferriere will maintain this position once the regular season commences, it’s intriguing to see how he performs alongside these elite linemates. This shift in the lineup has generated buzz among fans and analysts alike, adding an element of excitement to the game.

Another intriguing aspect to keep an eye on is the third defensive pair. Following their absence from Tuesday’s game, Brandt Clarke and Tobias Bjornfot were both eager to get back on the ice. However, it appears that only one of them will feature in this matchup. During the morning skate, Clarke was paired with Andreas Englund, while Bjornfot joined forces with Jordan Spence. The coaching staff has not provided any indication as to which pair will take the ice on Thursday night, leaving fans in suspense.

While the preseason lineup may not provide a definitive answer about the starting third defensive pair for the regular season, it offers fans an opportunity to see which defenseman gets back-to-back games and a chance to prove themselves on the ice.

Here are the lines from the morning skate:

Forwards:

• Quinton Byfield – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
• Trevor Moore – Phil Danault – Viktor Arvidsson
• Kevin Fiala – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Alex Laferriere
• Carl Grundstrom – Blake Lizotte – Trevor Lewis

Defense:

• Mikey Anderson – Drew Doughty
• Vladislav Gavrikov – Matt Roy
• Andreas Englund/Tobias Bjornfot – Jordan Spence/Brandt Clarke

Goalies:

• Pheonix Copley
• Cam Talbot

This game marks Pheonix Copley’s first full preseason appearance, as he strives to secure his spot on the NHL roster. The matchup promises to be an exciting one, with the Kings and Sharks both eager to showcase their talent and prepare for the upcoming season.

Stay tuned to see how the Kings’ lineup changes and defensive pair shuffle impact this preseason showdown. It’s a game you won’t want to miss!