As they prepared to host the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Kings were confident from their last few games, but they were certainly less certain about what players might be available for them in Saturday’s matchup.

Their four-point streak was snapped by Thursday’s 4-2 loss to Vancouvera game both teams described as providing playoff intensity in early November. In that contest, the Kings lost two players: wing Tanner Jeannot to a game-tying penalty and defenseman Mikey Anderson to a gruesome upper-body injury that left him face down on the ice with blood pouring from his head.

Manager Jim Hiller told reporters Friday that Anderson was “feeling good” and that the club was “optimistic” about his status, possibly even for Saturday’s game.

This update comes on the heels of news that Alex Turcotte’s upper-body injury was not the third serious concussion of his young pro career and that Arthur Kaliyev (broken collarbone) stepped up his participation, albeit in the same shirt without contact worn by Turcotte.

Jeannot, on the other hand, was suspended for three games after a phone hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety to discuss his hit on Canucks winger and Kings killer Brock Boeser in the first period, which left Boeser with a probable head injury and it wasn’t clear. timeline for his return.

Hiller said after the game in Vancouver that he didn’t expect Jeannot to be suspended, calling the illegal head check — which could have been called charging or interference — a “split-second reaction.” The league obviously disagreed.

Regardless of which Kings group –– they’ve also been missing top defenseman Drew Doughty (broken ankle) since the start of the season –– hits the ice against Columbus, they’ll have the record of having dominated the Blue Jackets’ history (39-21) . -1-6), including wins in three straight meetings and five of the last six.

Columbus managed a .500 hitting percentage despite low expectations and the weight of the tragic loss of their best player, Johnny Gaudreau, after he and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver during the offseason.