Our event of the day is the NHL match between the Los Angeles Kings and the Nashville Predators at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Both teams currently sit in the playoff positions, the Kings have 53 points from 41 games, while the Predators have 52 points, but they have played one game less. This is the first home match for Los Angeles in nine days, after three games on the road in Canada – they won the first two against the Vancouver Canucks (4-3) and the Edmonton Oilers (5-0), before losing 4-3 away to the Calgary Flames on Thursday. 
Tonight will be Nashville’s third in a row away from home, so far they have recorded two defeats to the Vegas Golden Knights (3-0) and to the Arizona Coyotes (3-2 after overtime). These rivals played a thrilling game in Los Angeles in November – the Kings rallied from a three-goal deficit in the last third, before the Predators eventually won it in overtime. Los Angeles are excellent in defending as they allow the least number of goals per game in the league – 2.32 and they hold the league’s best penalty kill percentage of 87.8%. Centre Anže Kopitar is 12th in the league on points – 17 goals and 26 assists, while defenceman Drew Doughty is third best in the plus-minus category with 22. Nashville’s defenceman Alexei Emelin has a perfect 100% of face-offs won, but left winger Filip Forsberg, scorer of nine power play goals so far this season, is unavailable following an upper-body injury. It should be another exciting duel at the Staples Center.See what else is happening in the world of sport
