The Kings are set to play their second game in as many nights on Tuesday, so it will be Pheonix Copley getting the nod between the pipes. Copley made just a single start for the Kings last season, spending the majority of the last two seasons with the Ontario Reign (AHL). The 33-year-old netminder has a 7-6-0 record and .885 SV% in 13 AHL starts this season. The Kings enter action on Tuesday at -235 on the money line.
With Darcy Kuemper (upper body) still on IR, the Kings will turn to Forsberg on Monday in the front end of a back-to-back. The 33-year-old Forsberg has showcased a mixed bag of results in his first season with the Kings, posting a 2.69 GAA and .901 SV% in 12 games (5-4-3). That said, he is coming off one of his best outings of the season, a 31-save performance (.969 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Kings enter the action on Monday as -160 home favorites against a struggling Blue Jackets team that sits in last place in the Eastern Conference (14-15-6).
With Darcy Kuemper (upper body) still on IR, the Kings will turn to Forsberg on Monday in the front end of a back-to-back. The 33-year-old Forsberg has showcased a mixed bag of results in his first season with the Kings, posting a 2.69 GAA and .901 SV% in 12 games (5-4-3). That said, he is coming off one of his best outings of the season, a 31-save performance (.969 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Kings enter the action on Monday as -160 home favorites against a struggling Blue Jackets team that sits in last place in the Eastern Conference (14-15-6).
Lombardi was drafted in the fourth round, 125th overall, by the Kings in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old, in his third season with the Flint Firebirds (OHL), has 41 points (21G / 20A) in 33 games during the 2025-26 season.
With Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve, the Kings will opt against giving Pheonix Copley his season debut and instead turn to Forsberg for the second time in as many nights. Forsberg and the Kings took the loss on Wednesday, with Forsberg allowing three goals on 28 shots. The Kings enter action on Thursday at +175 on the money line.
With Darcy Kuemper (upper body) on Injured Reserve, Forsberg will tend the twine for the Kings on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. The 33-year-old Forsberg allowed three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%) in relief of Kuemper in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Forsberg has a 2.82 GAA and .893 SV% in 10 games this season (4-3-3). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as +128 road underdogs against a Panthers team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (5-1-0).
Byfield was out of the lineup in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars due to an illness, but is expected to return on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. The 23-year-old Byfield has 19 points (4G / 15A) in 31 games this season, but has recently been demoted from the top powerplay unit and has seen his production dip significantly. He has only two points (0G / 2A) in his last 12 games.
With Darcy Kuemper (upper body) on Injured Reserve, Forsberg will likely tend the twine for the Kings on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. The 33-year-old Forsberg allowed three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%) in relief of Kuemper in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Forsberg has a 2.82 GAA and .893 SV% in 10 games this season (4-3-3). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as +128 road underdogs against a Panthers team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (5-1-0).
Darcy Keumper (upper body) was placed on Injured Reserve, resulting in the Kings recalling Copley from Ontario (AHL). With the Kings playing two back-to-back over the next week, Copley could tend the twine twice in that time if Kuemper remains out of the lineup for longer than a week.
Kuemper exited Monday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars late in the first period after a collision with Mikko Rantanen. The 35-year-old Kuemper has been outstanding for the Kings this season, posting a stellar 2.19 GAA and .917 SV% in 23 games (10-6-6). The Kings have relied on Kuemper heavily and will see their crease occupied by Anton Forsberg and Phoenix Copley in the interim.
The Kings have lost six of their last 10 (4-2-4), but largely credit Kuemper's strong play for helping the team collect points in four of those losses. Kuemper has been outstanding in December, posting a tremendous 1.62 GAA and .944 SV% in five games (2-2-1). The 35-year-old Kuemper has a 2.21 GAA and .916 SV% in 22 games this season (10-6-6). The Kings enter Monday's contest as +116 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has been outscored 9-2 during a two-game losing skid.
Kuzmenko has regularly been in and out of the lineup lately, but draws back in to replace Quinten Byfield (illness). The 29-year-old Kuzmenko was excellent with the Kings after being acquired before the trade deadline in 2024-25, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A) in 22 games, but has not been able to replicate that success in 2025-26. He played a season-low 6:58 time-on-ice in the Kings' most recent game and has just one point (1G / 0A) in his last 13.
The Kings have lost six of their last 10 (4-2-4), but largely credit Kuemper's strong play for helping the team collect points in four of those losses. Kuemper has been outstanding in December, posting a tremendous 1.62 GAA and .944 SV% in five games (2-2-1). The 35-year-old Kuemper has a 2.21 GAA and .916 SV% in 22 games this season (10-6-6). The Kings enter Monday's contest as +116 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has been outscored 9-2 during a two-game losing skid.
The Kings will be without their second-line center on Monday, as Byfield tends to an illness. The 23-year-old Byfield has 19 points (4G / 15A) in 31 games this season, but has recently been demoted from the top powerplay unit and has seen his production dip significantly. He has only two points (0G / 2A) in 12 games this season.
After scoring two or fewer goals in seven of their last nine games (3-3-3), the Kings have erupted to outscore their opponents 10-2 in their last two games (2-0-0). Darcy Kuemper has started four straight, so the Kings will turn to Forsberg on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 33-year-old Forsberg was solid in his most recent outing, saving 19 of 20 shots (.950 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks. Forsberg has a 2.69 GAA and .894 SV% in eight games this season (4-2-2). The Kings enter the action on Wednesday as -146 road favorites against a Kraken team on a five-game losing skid (0-5-0).
Kuzmenko has remained on the top powerplay unit but has since been heavily protected at even strength, seemingly not having the trust of the Kings' coaching staff. The 29-year-old Kuzmenko was excellent with the Kings after being acquired before the trade deadline in 2024-25, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A) in 22 games, but has not been able to replicate that success in 2025-26. He played a season-low 6:58 time-on-ice in the Kings' most recent game and has just one point (1G / 0A) in his last 13. Jeff Malott will draw into the lineup as Kuzmenko's replacement.
Andrei Kuzmenko will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken, allowing Malott to re-enter the lineup. The 29-year-old Malott has two goals in 19 games this season.
