A nightmarish trend continued for the Bruins in Wednesday’s loss to the Anaheim Ducks, when the Bruins gave up a game-winning goal in the final six minutes of regulation for the second time in four games.
As Boston continues its three-game road trip in California, the Bruins will look to get back on track when they visit the Kings on Friday night.
The Bruins will be without defenseman Charlie McAvoy indefinitely, as McAvoy underwent successful facial surgery earlier this week after taking a slap shot to the face last Saturday at Montreal. Friday will mark McAvoy’s third consecutive game missed. There is no timetable for his return.
Friday’s game is the Kings’ first home game since Nov. 6 and the second half of a back-to-back following a 4-3 shootout loss to the Sharks on Thursday.
The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. local time in Los Angeles (10:30 p.m. Eastern) and on NESN. Here’s your preview.
Get Starting Point
When: Friday, 10:30 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
TV, radio: NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Los Angeles -185. O/U: 5.5.
BRUINS
Season record: 12-10-0. vs. spread: 16-6. Over/under: 13-9
Last 10 games: 7-3-0. vs. spread: 8-2. Over/under: 6-4
KINGS
Season record: 10-6-5. vs. spread: 10-11. Over/under: 10-11
Last 10 games: 5-3-2. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 5-5
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Boston 71, Los Angeles 58
Goals allowed: Boston 73, Los Angeles 57
Power play: Boston 27.4%, Los Angeles 15.4%
Penalty minutes: Boston 266, Los Angeles 163
Penalty kill: Boston 81.9%, Los Angeles 80.0%
Faceoffs won: Boston 53.3%, Los Angeles 49.0%
Stat of the day: After scoring two goals Wednesday — his second multi-goal performance of the season — Morgan Geekie ended the day in a three-way tie for the NHL lead with 14 goals. After Thursday’s games, Geekie is tied for second. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon is the leader with 16.
Notes: In Wednesday’s loss, Geekie’s two power-play goals helped Boston rally to tie in the third period, and despite outshooting Anaheim 39-33, first-year coach Marco Sturm said his team lacked on the defensive end of the ice. … Michael Callahan joined the team from AHL affiliate Providence to take McAvoy’s roster spot, while the rest of the Boston pairs took on a different look in Anaheim. Nikita Zadorov and rookie Jonathan Aspirot made up the top unit. … Andrei Kuzmenko, who has just three goals in 18 games this season, returned to the Kings’ lineup Thursday after spending the previous three games as a healthy scratch. … Los Angeles is 1-4-2 on home ice as compared to a sparkling 9-2-3 on the road.
Emma Healy can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @ByEmmaHealy.
