WHO: Los Angeles Kings (0-0-0) vs. Buffalo Sabres (0-0-0)
WHAT: 2024-25 Regular Season Game
WHEN: Thursday, October 10 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: Bally Sports West – AUDIO – ESPN LA App – TWITTER: @dooleylak, @OvertimeScottB & @lakings
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The long-awaited season opener for the new-look Los Angeles Kings in opposition to a Buffalo workforce that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2011.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Kings head coach Jim Hiller famous on Wednesday that the workforce hasn’t had a lot success at KeyBank Center. He was probably referencing a 7-0 shellacking by the hands of the Sabres in this location final Feb. 13. That adopted a 5-3 loss to Buffalo in Los Angeles about three weeks earlier giving the Sabres a clear sweep 2-0-0 season sequence in opposition to the Kings final 12 months.
KINGS VITALS: The Kings’ Opening Night lineup Thursday will probably embrace eight gamers who weren't in the lineup when the workforce’s season ended in Edmonton final spring together with a brand new beginning goaltender in Darcy Kuemper, half of the protection corps and 4 new forwards. The sport in opposition to the Sabres marks the beginning of an epic seven-game street journey to kick off the season for the Kings. It stands as an early, important take a look at of the workforce’s new additions and new system.
Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
Jeannot – Danault – Moore
Fiala – Byfield – Foegele
Lee – Turcotte – Lewis
Anderson – Spence
Gavrikov – Burroughs
Edmundson – Clarke
Kuemper
Rittich
BUFFALO VITALS: The strain on new/outdated head coach Lindy Ruff is already ratcheting up in Buffalo after the Sabres appeared sluggish in dropping each video games of their abroad set with the New Jersey Devils in Prague. The Sabres managed two targets and had been outscored 7-2.
Notes –
Introducing The Two New Assistant Captains
Adrian Kempe and Mikey Anderson will share an assistant captain’s ‘A’ this season with Kempe sporting the letter at house and Anderson sporting the letter on the street beginning with Thursday’s sport in opposition to the Sabres. Both gamers acknowledged the must be somewhat extra vocal with defenseman Drew Doughty out month to month with an ankle damage particularly with so many new faces in the lineup – there shall be eight new gamers Thursday night time that weren’t in the lineup the final time the Kings performed in Game 5 of the primary spherical in Edmonton. “I’ve been lucky since I’ve been here to have some good leaders to learn from,” Anderson stated. “Try and just keep doing what I can do. Super cool. Super honored.” Kempe stated it’s about accepting extra accountability for he and Anderson. “Be more vocal,” he added. The management group could also be much more necessary this season with Doughty out and so many new faces. Kempe, for one, is worked up to see how all of the items come collectively. “They’re all new but it seems like they’ve been here for a while so that’s great news,” he stated. “Everybody is very excited. I’m excited to see all the new guys in the real game action.”
A Final Lineup Question Answered
Jim Hiller was a bit cagey on Wednesday when it got here to what his lineup would appear to be Thursday night time however he erased any doubt on that matter when he introduced after the morning skate that Andre Lee would, certainly, get his first NHL begin enjoying the wing on the workforce’s fourth line with Alex Turcotte and Trevor Lewis. Lee has been a nice shock to administration and the teaching employees all through the preseason course of and has rose to each problem introduced him. “I like that Andre, he’s big, he skates well and he finishes his checks,” Hiller stated As for a motivational speak Hiller figures Lee’s acquired sufficient happening with out some other dialogue. “I think he’s had some family come in tonight so I just let him know that I knew his family was coming in, he should be proud and just go out and enjoy the night. It’s pretty simple. He’s got enough motivation with all those things in the bag already.”
No Knute Rockne Speeches
Continuing a theme don’t anticipate Hiller to be pumping up his group realizing how determined the Sabres are for a win. “It’s an 82 game season and then there’s the playoffs. So I try to keep my redundancy to a minimum. Of course I have to throw out the cliches, we all do, but I try to keep those to a minimum,” Hiller stated. “These guys understand the moments so I try to save the times that I would hope they would listen to me for the moments that I think are really more important.” In brief, the fellows have been ready a very long time for Game 1, like Lee, there shouldn’t be any further motivation wanted.
To That Point, It’s Time
“Obviously camp was right from the get-go super intense and up-tempo which is good,” Anderson stated. “I think everyone is feeling good in the group. I think everyone’s just excited to finally play a game that matters and I think everyone’s ready to go.” Amen to that.
Rob Blake Meets With Media Via Zoom
One of the problems when the workforce is away from house for actually weeks earlier than the beginning of the house a part of the season is that reporters haven’t had an opportunity to talk with GM Rob Blake. He took questions from media again in the L.A. space through Zoom on Thursday. He was requested about Doughty and Arthur Kaliyev (damaged collarbone). Doughty, after all, is month to month recovering from ankle surgical procedure and Kaliyev shall be again sooner with the unique six to eight week window nonetheless the projection for him to return after he broke his collarbone early in camp, Blake stated. The GM advised reporters he feels optimistic in regards to the workforce’s probabilities in massive half given the depth the workforce has proven inside its ahead group. Blake stated that ahead depth needs to be the workforce’s largest energy particularly given the brand new system being employed by the Kings this season.
It all will get going later this afternoon at 4 PM Pacific from Buffalo!
