Kings @ Blue Jackets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Kings (11-19-2)

@ Columbus Blue Jackets (16-12-2)

Starting Goalies:

Jonathan Quick (LAK):  Likely

Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ): Confirmed

Current odds:

Los Angeles Kings: (+175)

Columbus Blue Jackets: (-210)

• The Columbus Blue Jackets have failed to win each of their last three outings at Nationwide Arena, including the first two contests of their six-game homestand. The Blue Jackets bid to end that streak and extend another as they attempt to emerge victorious for the ninth time in as many Thursday tilts this season when the Los Angeles Kings pay a visit. Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson have provided “must-see TV” as the former has notched 11 of his club-best 25 assists on Thursday while the latter has six of his team-leading 19 goals on that night. Both forwards each had an assist on Tuesday to remain tied with a club-high 32 points as Columbus bolted out to a two-goal lead before Vancouver scored three times in the third period — including twice in 78 seconds late in the session — in a 3-2 win on Tuesday.

• The Blue Jackets will look to notch their first victory of the homestand at the expense of the Kings, who have lost the first two contests of their four-game road trip against Eastern Conference foes. Defenseman Jake Muzzin recorded his second multi-point performance in three games by scoring and setting up a goal on Tuesday as Los Angeles dropped to 2-5-1 in its last eight contests with a 4-3 setback versus Buffalo.

• While Muzzin enjoyed a strong night against the Sabres, former Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty and fellow defenseman Dion Phaneuf endured painful and abbreviated ones after sustaining upper-body injuries. “It’s a huge loss. Not only is (Doughty) a big-time hitter, he’s also one of the best defensemen in the game and he eats a lot of minutes so … losing him is a huge part of our game,” goaltender Cal Petersen said. While coach Willie Desjardins shed little light on the status of Doughty and Phaneuf, Los Angeles was quick to move fellow blue-liner Alec Martinez (upper body) to injured reserve and recall defenseman Daniel Brickley from Ontario of the American Hockey League.

• Seth Jones scored 47 seconds into the contest versus the Canucks for his eighth point (four goals, four assists) in seven outings to move within one of 200 for his career. The 24-year-old Jones’ 36th career tally tied him in goals with Jack Johnson for third place in franchise history among defensemen — trailing only Rostislav Klesla (41) and Fedor Tyutin (39). Pierre-Luc Dubois is producing at a much more rapid pace, having recorded 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in his last 14 games.

• Los Angeles RW Dustin Brown collected a goal and two assists in his team’s 4-1 win versus Columbus on Nov. 3.

• The Blue Jackets have thwarted 45 of their opponents’ last 54 power-play opportunities.

• Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who scored in the first meeting with Columbus, is two goals shy of 300 for his career.