The Los Angeles Kings face the Washington Capitals with both teams looking to improve from slow starts to the season. The Kings have a 3-3 record and hope to bounce back after a 6-1 loss. The Capitals meanwhile 2-3 record and are coming off a rough 5-2 defeat. The Kings are looking to make up ground in the Pacific Division while the Capitals are hoping to improve in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference to start the season.
The Kings have shown promise at the beginning of the season with their offense stepping up and scoring 3.33 goals per game. Gabriel Vilardi and Adrian Kempe have scored eight goals and five assists to lead the top line but the entire offense has played well to start the season. Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, and Arthur Kaliyev have combined for three goals and 11 assists while defensemen Matt Roy and Drew Doughty have added four goals and three assists from the point to overwhelm the opposing defenses.
The offense has stepped up but the defense has been awful, allowing 4.50 goals per game including 13 goals in their last three games. Drew Doughty and Michael Anderson have led the top pairing but the rest of the defense has struggled, allowing opponents to easily carry the puck into the offensive zone and find open shots on the net. Moreover, goaltender Jonathan Quick has struggled in the net with a  ;.892 save percentage and a 3.87 goals-against average on 130 shots.