Roberto Luongo expected to start tonight against Kings
Posted January 28, 2013 11:36 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LOS ANGELES, CA (NEWS1130) – Roberto Luongo is expected to be in goal tonight when the Canucks the LA Kings to finish a three-game California road trip.
Cory Schneider has played the first two games on the trip including last night’s 4-1 loss at San Jose. It will be the second start of the season for Luongo, who hasn’t played since a 3-2 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers January 20th.
Jonathan Quick, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, is expected to start in net for the Kings. Quick had a 1.59 goals-against average and a shutout against Vancouver in the playoffs.
The game is the first meeting between the two teams since the Kings knocked the Canucks out of the playoffs in five games in the first round last spring. Los Angeles finally won a game in regulation this year, beating Phoenix 4-2 Saturday after beginning the season 0-2-1. The Canucks need to get the powerplay going, after an 0-7 with the man-advantage last night in San Jose.
“Power play wasn’t as good,” said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault after Sunday’s game in which the top line was also shut out.
Daniel Sedin was held without a shot in the game but leads the Canucks with six points (two goals, four assists) in the Canucks’ first five games. Los Angeles is the only team in the league without a power-play goal, despite having 23 chances. One of the hottest Kings is forward Kyle Clifford who has a goal and four assists in four contests.
The Canucks and Kings split a four-game season series in 2011-12. Despite last year’s playoff loss to the Kings, Vancouver has won four of the last six regular season meetings between the two teams.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.
