NHL Game of the Week: Kings vs. Flyers

The NHL is a month into its season, and we're starting to get a preview of what to expect from teams this season.

This matchup is a cross-conference matchup between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings see themselves towards the top of what looks like is going to be a very competitive top of the Pacific division with the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks off to hot starts.

The Flyers will search to find more consistency and make a run towards the top of the Metropolitan division, as they are sitting towards the bottom half.

Finding consistency may be a challenge for this young team, especially when it comes to goaltending.

Carter Hart will be questionable after getting injured against the Buffalo Sabres.

It was announced to be a “mid-body” injury.

With Hart in question, Philadelphia will be looking to ride the back of Travis Konecny.

Konecny leads the team in points and goals this season.

The right-winger will try to keep up the offensive consistency.

The Flyers will look to rely on their defensemen to put up a good fight.

One of those defensemen is Travis Sanheim.

The young defenseman has been great with setting up his teammates, leading the team in assists.

He is second on his team in points behind Konecny.

Sanheim seems to be given full trust by the coaching staff, as he also leads the team in ice time per game.

The Flyers will look towards these players to pull out a win against a top unit in the NHL so far.

The Kings have started off the season really hot and will look to continue against an inconsistent young squad.

Los Angeles has seen success from 36-year-old netminder Cam Talbot.

Talbot is top 10 in goals allowed, as well as one of the best in win-loss record.

The 36-year-old will be wanting to shut down the Flyers in a big way Saturday night.

As far as the offense goes, Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe have been getting it done on the first line.

Both players have been providing strong offense with double-digit points for each.

Kempe currently leads the team in points, while Kopitar leads the team in goals.

The duo also provides at least 19 minutes of ice time a game.

Their presence on the ice is important to their success.

With these two players along with the strong goaltending, the Kings look to be having a solid shot at competing this year.

This game is going to determine if a young squad can take down a talented and experienced hockey team in the Pacific.

Who will come out on top in a Saturday night showdown? We will have to wait and see.

Ben Barker is a first-year studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email bsb5566@psu.edu.