Preview: Red Wings visit Los Angeles Kings Saturday Night

LOS ANGELES -- If there's anything the past three seasons have taught the Detroit Red Wings anything, it's to expect the unexpected.
The Red Wings will begin their west coast swing a couple days late after Thursday's game was postponed due to COVID-related issues affecting the Anaheim Ducks. Instead, the stretch will begin late Saturday night, when Detroit takes on the Los Angeles Kings from Crypto.com Arena. Puck drop is set for 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, with broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit and the Red Wings Radio Network.

Detroit will now play Anaheim on Sunday, followed by a rematch with the San Jose Sharks next Tuesday, Jan. 11. The current Red Wings schedule features a busy stretch with 13 games in 24 days, including four separate back-to-back situations.
After dropping the first two games, Detroit salvaged a win against San Jose last Tuesday (Jan. 4) to wrap-up the homestand. The Red Wings have played just four games in the past 21 days due to COVID postponements and the Holiday break.

Detroit is 16-15-3 this season with 35 points, while Los Angeles enters Saturday's game with a 16-13-5 record and 37 points. The Kings are 10-8-2 at home, and coming off a 4-2 loss to the visiting Nashville Predators on Thursday.
Anze Kopitar leads the Kings with 29 points including 20 assists, while Adrian Kempe has scored a team-high 14 goals. Los Angeles has used three netminders this season. Jonathan Quick has started 22 games with a 10-8-4 record and a pair of shutouts.
The Wings and Los Angeles will meet twice in just over three weeks' time. Detroit will host the Kings to conclude the season series on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Red Wings third line tasked with bringing energy

The Red Wings' current third line featuring Joe Veleno, Vladislav Namestnikov and Adam Erne offers an energetic, change of pace dynamic that Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill is interested to see develop on the road trip.
"Erns and Vladdy have played together a decent amount. I think they've done a good job of being an energy line at different times with skill," Blashill said. "Joe's a little different element than Ras. Joe can bring some different things to the table. We'd like to have a similar type of identity with what they have with Ras. It might even be a little more of a rush line with Joe because he is a good transporter of the puck. Can we get a little more rush offense out of that, but yet still be a good energy line, be a hard line to play against? We hope that's what they can bring.

Special night with Daniella Bruce on the mic for Red Wings Radio Network

Saturday will be an historic night for the Red Wings, as Daniella Bruce will serve as Ken Kal's color analyst on the Red Wings Radio Network during the Los Angeles Kings broadcast. Bruce will be the first woman in Red Wings history to serve in that capacity.

She is a Digital Reporter and Producer for Red Wings TV, including serving as the host of Game Day Live - the in-venue show at Little Caesars Arena - and digital streaming shows The Forecheck and The Word on Woodward.