Columbus, OH (My Sportsbook) - Unbeaten in their last three games, the
Los Angeles Kings continue their current road trip today when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
Los Angeles is 1-0-2 in its last three games, including a 6-2 pounding of the New York Rangers on Friday. Adam Deadmarsh led the charge with his second career hat trick, as the Kings jumped ahead with three goals in the game's first 11:08 and never looked back.
Derek Armstrong, Bryan Smolinski and Alexander Frolov also scored, while Jason Allison contributed three assists. Allison leads the team with six helpers and 10 points in the early going.
With his parents in attendance after driving from Montreal, goaltender Felix Potvin turned aside 18 shots for the victory. Potvin has played well -- 2.12 goals-against average and .915 save-percentage -- but he is expected to take today off. Backup Jamie Storr, who stopped 31-of-33 saves in a 4-2 victory over Anaheim on October 16, will receive the nod in his place.
Winger Zigmund Palffy missed Friday's match -- and has sat out in four of the last five games -- due to a strained groin. He did not practice Saturday and is questionable for this evening.
The Kings hope to remain unbeaten on the road today (2-0-1) as they play the third installment of a five-game trip. The swing resumes on Tuesday in Atlanta before concluding two nights later in Chicago.
Columbus, meanwhile, caps off a four-game home set today. The Blue Jackets are 1-1-1 so far on the stand, including Friday's 5-4 loss to San Jose. Dave King's club squandered a pair of two-goal leads before allowing the Sharks to score four times in the third period.
Ray Whitney (2), Grant Marshall and Hannes Hyvonen all had goals wasted in the defeat. Goaltender Marc Denis was touched for five goals on 38 shots -- including four on 14 shots in the last period.
Columbus went 2-for-4 on the power play Friday and has converted at least one man advantage in a franchise-record seven consecutive games. The Blue Jackets are 9-of-44 (20.5 percent) on the PP on the season, including a 5-for-16 (31.3 percent) clip during this homestand.
The Jackets take to the road briefly after tonight, and will visit Chicago on Tuesday. They then return to Columbus for a three-game set.
Los Angeles went 3-1 against Columbus last season and is 6-2 in the short series between the teams. The Kings are 3-1 at Nationwide Arena.