The Los Angeles Kings will seek their second win in as many games on Saturday afternoon when they host the Utah Hockey Club at their newly renovated home rink.
After playing their first seven games on the road, the Kings finally made their home debut Thursday and posted a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
However, coach Jim Hiller told reporters afterward that the team “made it way more entertaining than it needed to be.”
After jumping out to a 3-0 lead after one period, the hosts allowed a power-play goal in both of the final two periods — including the final tally that came with a minute left in the contest. Still, the Kings won for the third time in four games.
Penalties have been a major issue for the Kings early on this season. Through eight games, they have given opponents 36 power-play opportunities, the third-most in the league entering play on Friday. The 10 goals they have surrendered while down a skater mark a tie with Edmonton for the most in the NHL.
The Kings allowed the Sharks six power plays Thursday. Hiller noted players who make frequent trips to the penalty box could find themselves losing ice time.
“We have to address it,” he said. “Sometimes you talk about it too much, and it gets worse. We tried to take the approach hands-off. I think somebody asked that question before, but it’s time to address it.”
Utah, meanwhile, comes to California having lost two in a row and four of its last five (1-3-1).
The club has cooled off significantly after scoring 16 goals in its first three games. Coach Andre Tourigny’s team has just seven over the past five. Utah HC ended a three-game homestand with a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
Despite being outscored 9-1 in the past two games, Tourigny told reporters after Thursday’s contest that there wasn’t a common theme to both losses. In falling 4-0 to Ottawa Tuesday, he felt the team had adequate scoring opportunities but just couldn’t convert. On Thursday, he said players needed to think shooting first rather than looking for a teammate.
“We tried to switch lines and do different things, but at the end of the day, we’d have to simplify,” Tourigny said. “The problem is we try too complicated a play, and we cannot get it done.”
Saturday could be the first game back for Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper. The 34-year-old netminder came off the injured reserve list Thursday after being placed on it last Saturday with a lower-body injury. He backed David Rittich, who stopped 24 of 26 shots Thursday to post his third win of the season.
Center Clayton Keller leads Utah with eight points (four goals, four assists). Right wing Dylan Guenther has a team-high five goals, while center Nick Schmaltz has seven assists.
For Los Angeles, captain Anze Kopitar is enjoying a fine start to his 19th year in the league. The 37-year-old center leads the Kings with eight points on three goals and five assists. Defenseman Brandt Clark also has five assists, while wingers Alex Laferriere and Kevin Fiala lead the Kings with four goals each.
