Game Twenty-Five Preview: Senators @ Kings

The Los Angeles Kings host the Ottawa Senators for the second-and-final matchup of the 2024-25 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.

In their first contest on October 14th, 2024, in Ottawa, the game spiraled out of control offensively, the Senators picking up an overtime 8-7 victory: the highest combined scoring game in the NHL, this season (15G).

Let’s consider this game the ‘Battle of the Three Win Streaks’ as neither LA nor Ottawa have been able to string together more than two wins.

The Kings are coming off wins against the Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks, goaltenders David Rittich and Erik Portillo giving up just one goal in each contest. Rittich is likely to suit up for the Kings on this, the second night of a back-to-back. However, with head coach Jim Hiller’s propensity to throw lineup curveballs, I wouldn’t be shocked if he goes back to the well with Portillo.

Ottawa is heading into the second game of their California road trip which will conclude on Sunday, in Anaheim, having already defeated the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, 4-3. Prior to making the trek out west, the Senators got a taste of the Pacific Division when they hosted: Edmonton, Vegas, Vancouver, and Calgary, going 1-3 in that span.

YOUNG CROWN’S THIRD SHOWDOWN AGAINST HOMETOWN… CLUB

Ottawa, Ontario native Brandt Clarke has played two career games against his hometown Senators.

The first game, back on March 7th, 2024, was played at Crypto.com Arena where Clarke got just a taste of action against his favorite childhood team in 7:28 TOI. In the second meeting, earlier this season, Clarke put on a show for family and friends in attendance tallying three assists.

So far, Clarke has sixteen points on the season (3G, 13A) in twenty-four games played. Two of those goals have come on home ice, six assists as well.

STUT-ISTICS

Senators forward Tim Stutzle leads the team in points (28) and assists (19), tied for third in +/- (+3). Currently on a five-game point streak, Stutzle has been consistently putting up numbers with three goals and eight assists in eight-of-his-last-ten games played.

There will always be career comparisons between Stutzle and Los Angeles forward Quinton Byfield who were drafted third-overall and second-overall in 2020, respectively.

The Kings seem to get up for this trivial rivalry (if you can even call it that), having shutout Stutzle with zero goals in seven total matchups.

Stutzle has scored three times against the New York Rangers (who had the first-overall selection in 2020 [Alexis Lafreniere]) and will be looking to complete his bingo card for ‘Goals Against Teams Who Didn’t Select Me.’

SILVER SEVEN

Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk has been a force to be reckoned with. Already with fifty PIMS on the season, Tkachuk hasn’t shied away from imposing his physical presence, currently tied for third leaguewide in hits (94); his team best eleven goals the icing on the cake.

Fans have been critical of Tkachuk’s decision to, for a lack of a better term… goon it up, this season.

ESPN analyst and former NHL Defenseman P.K. Subban has been quick to defend Tkachuk, who believes his style of play is essential for Ottawa to become a playoff contender.

Eleven Stanley Cup banners hang in the rafters at Canadian Tire Centre honoring the original Ottawa Senators, also known as the Silver Seven. According to hockey historian Eric Zweig, those Senators played a brand of hockey similar to Tkachuk.

With today’s Senators still looking for their first Stanley Cup, borrowing a page from the Silver Seven’s playbook wouldn’t be the worst idea.

Puck drop is slated for 4:05 PM PST. You can watch the game on television via KCAL or listen live with the ESPN LA app.