Kings Notes:
Quinton Byfield notched his 20th career NHL point with his assist on Kopitar's first period goal Friday night vs. the Panthers. Per NHL PR, Byfield (20 years, 161 days) is the second Kings player in the past 10 years to hit such mark at age 20 or younger (Arthur Kaliyev, 20 years and 253 days, March 6, 2021).
Both Adrian Kempe and Viktor Arvidsson scored shorthanded goals on Friday night, marking the 23rd time in franchise history the Kings have scored multiple shorthanded goals in a single game. It was the first time the team has done so since Nov. 3, 2018 vs. Columbus (2 SHG, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown). The Kings are the sixth different team this season to tally multiple shorthanded goals in a game.
Two of the league's top-five power plays since the New Year face off against one another tonight. The Kings' power-play has been active on the scoring sheet since the flip to the new calendar year, scoring nine power-play goals in 33 man-advantage opportunities for a power-play percentage (PP%) of 27.3%. LA's 27.3 PP% is tied for third in the league while Tampa Bay (25.0 PP%) places fifth.
The Kings enter tonight having scored at least one power-play goal in each of their last five games against the Lightning, marking the longest active power-play goal streak versus the Lightning among any one team in the league (5 PPG). With a goal on the man advantage tonight, the Kings can become the first team since the Pittsburgh Penguins to establish a power-play goal streak of at least six games versus Tampa Bay (11 PPG, Dec. 10, 2016 - Nov. 25, 2017).
The Kings are 5th in faceoff win percentage (52.9%).
The Kings power play ranks 10th in the NHL (24.0%).
The Kings penalty kill ranks 24th in the NHL (74.7%).
Lightning Notes:
The Lightning are 7-4-0 against Pacific Division opponents and 15-6-0 against the Western Conference this season.
Tampa Bay is 19-4-1 at home this season and have won 11 consecutive games at AMALIE Arena, tied for the longest home winning streak in franchise history.
Tampa Bay has scored a power-play goal in five straight home games with nine power-play goals during that span.
The Lightning are 11th in faceoff win percentage (51.6%).
The Lightning power play ranks 2nd in the NHL (27.0%).
The Lightning penalty kill ranks 13th in the NHL (80.7%).
Who to Watch:
Adrian Kempe, who reached the 20-goal mark for the second consecutive season on Friday night.
Nikita Kucherov, who leads the NHL in assists (52) and ranks third in points (71).
