The Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings are set to clash at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 4:00 PM ET. This matchup features two of the NHL’s hottest teams, both riding impressive streaks as they battle for playoff positioning in their respective conferences.
Team Overview
Carolina Hurricanes (42-22-4)
- Current Form: The Hurricanes are on an eight-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the NHL. They most recently defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Thursday, showcasing their defensive dominance by allowing two or fewer goals in each of their last eight games. Carolina sits second in the Metropolitan Division and is looking to extend their streak to nine games.
- Road Record: Carolina has a 15-15-3 record on the road, but their recent form suggests they are peaking at the right time.
- Key Players:
- Sebastian Aho: Leads the team with 65 points (27 goals, 38 assists) and has been instrumental during the win streak, contributing 3 points in his last two games.
- Seth Jarvis: On a six-game point streak, Jarvis has 27 goals and 25 assists this season and is just two points shy of reaching 200 career points.
- Brent Burns: The veteran defenseman continues to be a key contributor, recently playing his 911th consecutive game, the fifth-longest ironman streak in NHL history.
- Goaltending:
- Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to start. He has a 25-11-3 record, a 2.37 GAA, and a .908 save percentage. Kochetkov has been stellar recently, winning five straight starts with a .948 save percentage.
Los Angeles Kings (37-21-9)
- Current Form: The Kings have won six of their last seven games, including a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. They are third in the Pacific Division and have been buoyed by outstanding goaltending and defensive play, allowing just 11 goals in their last seven games.
- Home Record: Los Angeles has been dominant at home, boasting a 23-3-4 record at Crypto.com Arena.
- Key Players:
- Adrian Kempe: Leads the team with 28 goals and 27 assists (55 points). Kempe has been consistent all season and will be a focal point of the Kings’ offense.
- Kevin Fiala: Has contributed 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in his last 10 games, providing secondary scoring.
- Drew Doughty: The veteran defenseman anchors the blue line and plays a critical role in both ends of the ice.
- Goaltending:
- Darcy Kuemper is expected to start. Kuemper has been in sensational form, posting a 23-9-7 record, a 2.13 GAA, and a .919 save percentage. Over his last six starts, he has a remarkable .964 save percentage, making him one of the league’s hottest goaltenders.
Head-to-Head Matchup
- Season Series: This is the second meeting between the two teams this season. The Kings won the first matchup 4-2 on February 1 in Raleigh, with Kevin Fiala scoring twice.
- Historical Record: The Hurricanes and Kings have been evenly matched in recent years, with both teams splitting their last 10 meetings.
- Key Stats:
- Carolina averages 3.3 goals per game while allowing 2.6 goals per game, ranking among the league’s best defensively.
- Los Angeles averages 2.95 goals per game while conceding 2.62 goals per game, showcasing their defensive discipline.
- The Hurricanes’ penalty kill ranks 1st in the NHL (84.8%), while the Kings’ power play ranks 28th (15.3%), giving Carolina a potential edge in special teams.
Projected Lineups
Carolina Hurricanes:
- Forwards:
- Jarvis – Aho – Blake
- Hall – Kotkaniemi – Roslovic
- Martinook – Staal – Stankoven
- Fast – Drury – Noesen
- Defense:
- Slavin – Burns
- Gostisbehere – Pesce
- Chatfield – Coghlan
- Goaltender: Pyotr Kochetkov (expected starter)
Los Angeles Kings:
- Forwards:
- Kempe – Kopitar – Fiala
- Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
- Grundstrom – Byfield – Kaliyev
- Lizotte – Kupari – Vilardi
- Defense:
- Anderson – Doughty
- Gavrikov – Roy
- Bjornfot – Walker
- Goaltender: Darcy Kuemper (expected starter)
Injury Report
Carolina Hurricanes:
- Teuvo Teravainen (upper body): Out.
- Andrei Svechnikov (knee): Out for the season.
Los Angeles Kings:
- Trevor Lewis (lower body): Day-to-day.
- Sean Durzi (upper body): Out.
Storylines to Watch
- Hurricanes’ Defensive Dominance: Carolina has allowed just 10 goals during their eight-game winning streak. Can they maintain this level of defensive excellence against a Kings team that thrives at home?
- Goaltending Duel: Pyotr Kochetkov and Darcy Kuemper are two of the league’s hottest goaltenders. Their performances will likely determine the outcome of this game.
- Special Teams Battle: The Hurricanes’ top-ranked penalty kill will face off against the Kings’ struggling power play. This could be a decisive factor in a tightly contested game.
- Playoff Implications: Both teams are jockeying for playoff positioning, with the Hurricanes aiming to close the gap on the Metropolitan Division leaders and the Kings looking to solidify their spot in the Pacific Division.
