Following a dormant trade deadline Friday, the Kings will turn their attention to the Dallas Stars, whom they’ll host Saturday in a showdown of likely playoff-bound clubs.
Games 2 and 3 in the season series will unfold within eight days as the Kings will spend next Saturday in Dallas, where they lost the first meeting 5-1 on Jan. 16.
While Central Division-leading Dallas has a do-it-all rearguard in Miro Heiskanen and an emergent force on the blue line in rookie Thomas Harley, it was depth defenseman Jacob Moverare who stole the headlines – and hearts – against the Kings’ previous opponent, the Ottawa Senators.
The 25-year-old scored his first career NHL goal in a similar fashion to Andreas Englund on his first goal earlier this season, with a bounce off a defender and a bit of puck luck. Yet the goal caused the Kings more elation than even Quinton Byfield’s spectacular breakaway tally earlier in the contest, with Blake Lizotte’s ear-to-ear grin and the reception on the bench highlighting the ebullience.
“It felt awesome, they’re a great group here on this team. All the guys are awesome, so it was really nice to get that reception,” said Moverare, whose goal was assisted by Kings legends Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty.
Moverare was enthused about spending two more seasons with the Kings after signing a two-year contract extension Wednesday, the same day he was waived for logistical reasons along with forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan, who was claimed by the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
“I’m really happy. This is an awesome place with awesome guys here, so it’s so fun to stay here for two more years,” Moverare said.
Kings general manager Rob Blake called the team’s joy for Moverare “genuine.” The crowd on hand erupted like it may not have since the 2014 Stanley Cup Final when Moverare made puck meet twine.
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“He’s a really unique character. He’s got a wonderful personality, the guys really take a liking to him and he’s not known to score goals,” Kings interim coach Jim Hiller said. “So, he signs a contract, he scores a goal, that’s a pretty good day for somebody who’s really, really spent some time at his game in the minors, not give up, stay with the organization. Everybody was probably as excited for that goal as any other goal we’ve scored this year.”
Moverare and mates will next face Dallas in the Stars’ second game of their back-to-back set, which will give leading scorer Jason Robertson, who hails from Arcadia, a chance to return to the area.