Time: 9:30 PM CST Channel: TSN3 Radio: TSN1290 The Winnipeg Jets are playing the Los Angeles Kings in Los Angeles so Team No Sleep will rise again. The Jets are coming off of an impressive win against the talented Calgary Flames while the Kings are...not so impressive. The Jets still need to be careful though because it only takes one goal to win a game and one goal to lose a game (sorry, I spent Sunday coaching elimination games so this is my headspace). The Jets will need to continue to make do with their rag-tag defence for a couple more weeks if I am counting correctly when it comes to injuries. Now, the Jets could welcome Joe Morrow back into the lineup tonight, but I am not sure there is anyone in the Jets lineup who has earned the right to be scratched and would be unless their name is Sami Niku and he has been playing really well. This game has a lot of potential to be a really late, boring game where not much happens and it ends with everyone asleep on their couch...or it could be a really exciting game where a lot happens and everyone is jumping around their living rooms. Hope for the latter, but expect the former because that would be the Kings.<doc-sep>How to Watch Game Time: 7:30 PM Pacific TV: Fox Sports West Radio: iHeart Radio The Opposition: Arctic Ice Hockey What to Watch Imagine that you have a hockey team. And that hockey team currently sits at number one in their division. And yet you’ve lost five of your last 10, and people are wondering what, specifically, is wrong with your team. Congratulations, you have the Winnipeg Jets. Despite being one of the top teams all year, there’s some justifiable angst in the Jets fan base. Between perplexing lineup decisions, injuries to the blue line (including the very large, very physical Dustin Byfuglien), and Connor Hellebuyck looking downright human at times, the Jets are feeling less “embarrassment of riches” and more “yikes” about their recent play. I don’t know, though, man. From down here, “good but flawed” feels really nice. Anyway, the Jets can score. They can defend. They can hit. They can outskate you. Even with Patrik Laine only — only — OnLy — “only” — having 29 goals — and again, remember, Anze Kopitar only just hit the 20 goal mark on Saturday — the Jets have no problem putting the puck in the net. Nine players are in the double digits for goals, led by Mark Scheifele with 34. Their power play is fourth in the league (25.6%) and while their penalty kill is decidedly just okay (23rd in the league, 79.3%), what does it matter when you can so easily outscore your mistakes? Perhaps the only saving grace for the Kings tonight, aside from whatever late-season malaise is making the Jets look meh and sending their fans into a tizzy, is the Jets’ middling road record. They’re 18-16-0 on the season when on the road, with losses in five of their last 10 away games. Their road power play is still fairly good — sitting in 13th place in the league (19.1%) — and their road penalty kill (81.6%) is even better than their home penalty kill (76.9%), At this point, we know what the Kings are. They’re deeply flawed, poorly coached, and completely demoralized. They’re on autopilot waiting for the season to end, from the looks of things. The Jets are going to want these two points — they’re only one point ahead of the Nashville Predators, and would probably like to extend that lead. It’s not going to be an easy game. And while the Kings came away with a 4-1 win the last time these teams met, led by a strong performance from Jonathan Quick, that feels like an outlier that should not be counted. Plus, there’s this: Dusting this off, because it's a Funny Tweet, but it also applies tonight. A loss in any fashion to Winnipeg officially eliminates the #LAKings from playoff contention. https://t.co/z4oP76iaia — Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) March 18, 2019 Lineup Notes #NHLJets morning skate in LA line rushes Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler Connor-Hayes-Ehlers Tanev-Lowry-Little Perreault-Copp-Hendricks Beaulieu-Trouba Kulikov-Myers Chiarot-Niku — Jamie Thomas (@JamieThomasTV) March 18, 2019 Brossoit starts. Hendricks in for Roslovic against the Kings tonight. Roslovic is healthy, just coaches decision. #NHLJets — Jamie Thomas (@JamieThomasTV) March 18, 2019 Hello from Jet City El Segundo. Quiet optional skate at TSC. No line rushes. Wait for the song. — Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) March 18, 2019 Kings back at it early (for a Sunday) at TSC. Fwiw, Kovalchuk has been on a line with Carter and Brodzinski in drills. — Curtis Zupke (@curtiszupke) March 17, 2019 Quick, Watch This<doc-sep>The sight was brief but emblematic. Brendan Leipsic, listed at 5 feet 10 and hardly known as a fighter, ended up tangled with Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tyler Myers, who appears every inch of his listed 6 feet 8. It happened when tempers boiled over in the second period, and the metaphor was clear. The Kings weren’t going down without a fight Monday night. Matched against a big, fast Winnipeg team that is working toward a Central Division title, they offered up pushback in the opening 40 minutes and gave themselves a fighting chance at the end. But a hairy finish dissolved into an ugly truth: The Kings were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-2 loss at Staples Center. It was a foregone conclusion, but it hit home in its formality. Advertisement “It’s definitely a sour taste,” center Anze Kopitar said. “This whole year has been disappointing. ... Not one guy in this room should be just OK with what’s been going on this year.” Kopitar pointed out that the Kings still have something to compete for in terms of players trying for jobs and established players showing they “want to keep playing in this league.” They got some of both with goals by Sean Walker and Dustin Brown, while Leipsic was representative of some late-season toughness. He assisted on Walker’s first-period goal and drew a penalty that resulted in Brown’s second-period tally. Leipsic took exception to an apparent trip toward the end of the second period that produced another set of scrums as both teams displayed some unusual edge for teams that play only three times a season. Leipsic is among those trying to establish himself, and the cold reality of the team’s elimination stamped the Kings’ 16th loss in 18games. “It sucks,” Leipsic said. “You always want to be in the mix. But that’s the reality — we’re not going to be this year. [We] still have a lot to play for … myself included. So take care of business the last 10games and see what happens.” Brown got the Kings to 2-all with a power-play goal, his 19th goal of the season. He was able to walk in the puck some on the left side against a stickless Brandon Tanev and beat Jets goalie Laurent Brossoit with a shot under the glove. Walker’s third goal this season was a shot that deflected off Tanev’s skate, off the crossbar and into the goal in the first period. Leipsic made it happen when he spotted Walker on the right side and then curled to the net to screen Brossoit. Advertisement Walker is among the young defensemen the Kings need to play down the stretch, a point made further by the benching of Dion Phaneuf for the third time this season. Matt Roy, another defenseman prospect, also got noticed when he induced a tripping penalty, but Roy was also on the ice for Winnipeg’s first goal. The Kings were ultimately felled by a goal from Myers on a pinpointed shot to the upper right corner of the net on a two-on-one just as a Jets penalty expired with just more than three minutes remaining in the second period. Goalie Jack Campbell stood little chance on it in only his second start since Feb.25. The Jets also got goals by Kevin Hayes and Kyle Connor after the Kings played them evenly in the opening minutes, only to fail to register a shot in the first 16 minutes of the third period. Asked about showing fight against Winnipeg, Kopitar said: “That’s a good team, but a pretty good fight gets us to 3-2 in the end. It’s not good enough.” Advertisement Sign up for our daily sports newsletter » curtis.zupke@latimes.com Twitter: @curtiszupke<doc-sep>Winnipeg goaltender Laurent Brossoit deflects a shot from the Kings’ Matt Roy (81) during the second period of Monday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Sami Niku #83 of the Winnipeg Jets takes an interference penalty on Brendan Leipsic #14 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Los Angeles Kings loses the puck between Mathieu Perreault #85 and Laurent Brossoit #30 of the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Winnpeg’s Brandon Tanev, left, and the Kings’ Matt Roy react to a check during the first period of Monday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Los Angeles Kings’ Brendan Leipsic, left, and Winnipeg Jets’ Nathan Beaulieu (88) are separated by a referee during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Sami Niku #83 of the Winnipeg Jets attempts a wrap around on Jack Campbell #36 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Mark Scheifele #55 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps the puck from Derek Forbort #24 of the Los Angeles Kings and Jack Campbell #36 during the first period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Blake Wheeler #26 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a pass in front of Anze Kopitar #11 and Jack Campbell #36 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Sean Walker #61 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal to tie the game 1-1 with the Winnipeg Jets during the first period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Kyle Connor #81 of the Winnipeg Jets scores a power play goal past Jack Campbell #36 of the Los Angeles Kings, to take a 2-1 lead, during the first period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Brendan Leipsic #14 of the Los Angeles Kings and Nathan Beaulieu #88 of the Winnipeg Jets are held apart by the linesman during the second period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Laurent Brossoit #30 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a save in front of Matt Roy #81 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal with Anze Kopitar and Brendan Leipsic #14, for a 2-2 tie with the Winnipeg Jets, during the second period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings scores on Laurent Brossoit #30 of the Winnipeg Jets as Brendan Leipsic #14 skates by the crease, for a 2-2 tie, during the second period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) The Kings’ Alec Martinez shows his disappointment after Winnipeg’s Tyler Myers (57) scored the go-ahead goal during the second period of Monday’s game at Staples Center. It proved to be the game-winner in the Jets’ 3-2 victory. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings attempts a shot in front of Kevin Hayes #12 and Dmitry Kulikov #5 of the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at Staples Center on March 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Winnipeg Jets’ Tyler Myers, right, controls the puck in front of Los Angeles Kings’ Alex Iafallo during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Winnipeg Jets’ Kevin Hayes (12) celebrates his goal with teammates Nikolaj Ehlers, center, and Ben Chiarot (7) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Monday, March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor, left, scores past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jack Campbell, front right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor, center, shoots against Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jack Campbell, right, as Matt Roy, left, defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jack Campbell, left, stops a shot from Winnipeg Jets’ Sami Niku during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor (81) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Monday, March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Los Angeles Kings’ Sean Walker (61) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Monday, March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Winnipeg Jets goaltender Laurent Brossoit, right, gives up a goal on a shot from Los Angeles Kings’ Dustin Brown, not seen, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)<doc-sep>
114-Word Recap The Los Angeles Kings picked the wrong team to battle in a one-goal game: the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets improved to 18-6-4 in one-goal games this season, edging the Kings 3-2. The Jets have 90 points and a three-point lead over Nashville atop the Central Division. The Kings have now lost five straight home games, dropped six of seven overall and 16 of 18. They were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. At 58 points, the Kings are last in the Western Conference and have the second-fewest points in the NHL. However, if the season were to end today, the Kings would have a 13.5% chance to land the top pick in June’s Entry Draft. The Game 71 Scoring Jets 1. Kings 0. Jets 2. Kings 0. Jets 2. Kings 1. Jets 2. Kings 2. We LOVE a power play goal pic.twitter.com/IuYoqQoK2q — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 19, 2019 Jets 3. Kings 2. The Third Period Kyle Clifford showed the only fight the Kings could muster at the 2:48 mark in the third. This Kings would not get their first shot on goal until the 16:10 mark of the third and were outshot 10-2 in the period. A fitting way for the Kings’ playoff chances to end. Next: The Kings host the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center on Thursday. Quotables Willie Desjardins: “Well, that’s always disappointing [on being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs]. It’s never the way you start a year, it’s the one thing you never want to happen. That’s a tough thing today. It’s not something that we’ve been focused on. We’ve been more focused on just game-by-game trying to get things going.” Anze Kopitar: “Well it’s definitely sour taste. Thoughts? This whole year has been disappointing and now we’re eliminated officially and not one guy in this room should be okay with just what’s been going on this year. With that being said, there’s 10 games left and there’s guys that are trying to stay in the lineup, there’s guys that are trying to prove themselves in the league, and there are guys that are older and want to keep playing in this league, so there’s lots to play for.” Postgame Interview with Brendan Leipsic after tonights tough matchup against the Jets pic.twitter.com/grcrGIXpIl — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 19, 2019 Paul Maurice on Tyler Myers’ goal, the team’s strong third period, and more following tonight’s win in Los Angeles. #WPGvsLAK pic.twitter.com/Kqk0Ew3pT3 — Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) March 19, 2019