The New York Islanders will try to snap a four-game losing streak when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, Nov. 12, at crypto.com Arena. This Islanders vs Kings preview comes with both clubs scuffling: New York is 7-6-4 and sits fifth in the Metropolitan Division, while Los Angeles has dropped two straight and owns the NHL’s worst record among playoff hopefuls in the Pacific at 5-9-2.
The Islanders lead the season series 1-0, and they arrive banged up after a 3-2 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 10, detailed in Total Apex Sports’ recap of that shootout defeat. The Kings, meanwhile, were shut out 3-0 by the Nashville Predators in their most recent outing on Wednesday.
Islanders Vs Kings Game Information
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 12
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Venue: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
- TV/Streaming: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu
- Season series: Islanders lead 1-0
Islanders Outlook
New York has lost four straight games, including an overtime defeat to the New Jersey Devils and a regulation loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, a game covered in Total Apex Sports’ report on that 5-3 setback. Despite the skid, the Islanders own the better goals-against average in this matchup at 2.94 compared to the Kings’ 3.44, and their .908 team save percentage outpaces Los Angeles’ .889.
Bo Horvat leads the team with 7 goals and 17 points, while rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer paces the Islanders with 12 assists. Ilya Sorokin is projected to start in net. New York is dealing with a thin lineup, with Mathew Barzal (knee), Matias Maccelli (left lower body) and Calum Ritchie (lower body) all on injured reserve, and defenseman Ryan Pulock remains out with an upper-body injury, a situation Total Apex Sports detailed in its report on Pulock’s timeline. Defenseman Alexander Romanov is out long-term following right knee surgery, with a return date not projected until April.
Kings Outlook
Los Angeles has alternated wins and losses for much of its last five games but has now dropped two in a row by a combined 8-2 margin. The Kings’ 51.1% faceoff rate trails New York’s 56.3%, a gap that could factor into puck possession given the Islanders’ faceoff win total of 506 compared to the Kings’ 459.
Artemi Panarin leads Los Angeles in goals (8), assists (10) and points (18), giving the Kings their most dangerous offensive weapon on the ice. Darcy Kuemper is projected to start in goal. The Kings’ blue line is shorthanded, with Drew Doughty (lower body) and Erik Gustafsson (undisclosed) both listed as day-to-day, while Kevin Fiala remains on injured reserve following left lower leg surgery and Jakub Dvorak is out with an upper-body injury.
Key Matchup
The Islanders’ penalty kill will be tested against a Kings power play that has converted 12 goals this season compared to New York’s 8, even though Los Angeles has otherwise struggled to find offense in back-to-back losses. New York’s defensive numbers, including its 2.94 goals-against average, suggest the Islanders can limit Kings chances at five-on-five, but with Doughty and Gustafsson banged up on the Kings blue line, special teams could decide how much open ice Panarin and the Los Angeles forwards find.
Faceoffs could also play a role. New York’s 56.3% faceoff percentage gives the Islanders an edge in controlling zone entries and limiting Kings possession time, a factor that matters against a Los Angeles team already missing key depth on defense.
What To Watch
Both teams are trying to stop losing streaks, with the Islanders at four straight defeats and the Kings at two. New York sits fifth in the Metropolitan Division with 18 points, while Los Angeles is seventh in the Pacific with 12 points, making this an early-season measuring stick for two clubs still searching for consistency. The health of the Kings’ blue line, with Doughty and Gustafsson both day-to-day, will be worth monitoring as the game approaches.
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