Los Angeles Kings News

The Kings failed to score on Wednesday, losing 3-0 to the Florida Panthers, and will turn to Rittich between the pipes on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Rittich struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Czech netminder has a 2.65 GAA and .884 SV% in 22 appearances this season (11-10-0). The Kings enter Thursday's contest as +130 road underdogs against a Lightning squad with losses in four of their last five games (1-4-0).

Clarke is presumably not battling any sort of injury and is simply a healthy scratch to make way for Drew Doughty's long anticipated season debut. The 21-year-old Clarke has three goals and 21 assists in 47 games this season.

Fiala is battling an illness but will be available for Wednesday's contest against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old forward has 29 points (16G / 13A) in 46 games and his pacing for his worst offensive output since the 2018-19 season when he has 39 points (13G / 26A) in 83 games. That said, he has picked it up lately, with seven points (2G / 5A) in his last six games.

The Kings have lost four of their last five (1-3-1) and will roll with Kuemper between the pipes on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. Kuemper struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 27 shots (.852 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The 34-year-old netminder has a solid 2.17 GAA and .918 SV% through 26 appearances (14-5-6) but has struggled lately, posting a .890 SV% in his last four (1-2-1). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as +135 road underdogs against a Panthers squad coming off a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Kings have lost four of their last five (1-3-1) and will likely roll with Kuemper between the pipes on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. Kuemper struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 27 shots (.852 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The 34-year-old netminder has a solid 2.17 GAA and .918 SV% through 26 appearances (14-5-6) but has struggled lately, posting a .890 SV% in his last four (1-2-1). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as +135 road underdogs against a Panthers squad coming off a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Helenius has spent some time in the AHL lately, where he has three points (2G / 1A) in nine games with the Ontario Reign. The 22-year-old forward has three points (1G / 2A) in 27 games with the Kings.

Fiala is battling an illness and could miss Wednesday's contest against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old forward has 29 points (16G / 13A) in 46 games and his pacing for his worst offensive output since the 2018-19 season when he has 39 points (13G / 26A) in 83 games. That said, he has picked it up lately, with seven points (2G / 5A) in his last six games.

Doughty underwent ankle surgery after being injured in the preseason and has missed the first 47 games of the season but will finally debut on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. He has been a staple on the Kings' blueline for over a decade. Over the last two seasons, Doughty averaged nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs, and a +15 plus/minus.

Doughty underwent ankle surgery after being injured in the preseason and has missed the first 47 games of the season but will finally debut on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. He has been a staple on the Kings' blueline for over a decade. Over the last two seasons, Doughty averaged nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs, and a +15 plus/minus.

The Kings have lost five of their last seven (2-4-1) and will turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. Kuemper allowed three goals on 24 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 34-year-old netminder has a 2.09 GAA and .920 SV% in 25 appearances this season (14-4-6). The Kings enter Monday's contest as -145 road favorites against a Red Wings team that has scored two or fewer goals in four of their last five (2-2-1).

The Kings have lost five of their last seven (2-4-1) and will likely turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. Kuemper allowed three goals on 24 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 34-year-old netminder has a 2.09 GAA and .920 SV% in 25 appearances this season (14-4-6). The Kings enter Monday's contest as -145 road favorites against a Red Wings team that has scored two or fewer goals in four of their last five (2-2-1).

Doughty has missed the first 46 games of the season but has been ramping up his on-ice activity over the last week. Per Darren Dreger, Doughty's health is great, but the Kings are allowing him time to get back up to speed before he makes his season debut. Don't expect to see Doughty in Detroit on Monday but he could be in by the end of the week.

The Kings have been outscored 9-3 in their last two games (0-2-0) and will turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. Kuemper struggled in his most recent outing, allowing three goals on 21 shots (.857 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, but has been excellent most of the season. The 34-year-old netminder has a stellar 2.10 GAA and .920 SV% in 23 games this season (13-4-5). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as -113 home favorites against a Panthers squad that defeated that defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 last night.

The Kings have been outscored 9-3 in their last two games (0-2-0) and will likely turn to Kuemper between the pipes on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. Kuemper struggled in his most recent outing, allowing three goals on 21 shots (.857 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, but has been excellent most of the season. The 34-year-old netminder has a stellar 2.10 GAA and .920 SV% in 23 games this season (13-4-5). The Kings enter Wednesday's contest as -113 home favorites against a Panthers squad that defeated that defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 last night.

Thomas has not played since December 28th but will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 10:24 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 16 games this season.

Doughty underwent ankle surgery after being injured in the preseason and has yet to play this season but appears to be nearing a return. He has been a staple on the Kings' blueline for over a decade. His impact has been missed despite the Kings allowing only 110 goals this season, the fewest in the NHL thus far. Over the last two seasons, Doughty averaged nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs, and a +15 plus/minus.

The Kings are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken and will revert to Rittich between the pipes on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rittich has only played once this month, a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames when he saved 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%). The Czech netminder has a 2.52 GAA and .887 SV% in 21 appearances this season (11-9-0). The Kings enter Monday's contest as -185 home favorites against a Penguins club without offensive threat Rickard Rakell (personal).