Preview: Today’s Optional Skate and Key Penalty Kill Adjustments
The Los Angeles Kings are set to face the St. Louis Blues in their 50th game of the 2025 Regular Season. This matchup will occur on January 24 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Fans can follow the game on the FanDuel Sports Network and KCAL, with audio available on the ESPN LA App and LA Kings App.
Today’s Optional Skate and Key Penalty Kill Adjustments
As the Kings embark on a six-game road trip, they aim to build on their recent success. They previously secured a 2-1 victory over the Blues in October, with Adrian Kempe scoring the decisive overtime goal. Kempe has been impactful against St. Louis, tallying seven goals against them since the start of the 2022-23 season, with only four players having scored more against the Blues during this timeframe.
Kings’ Game Strategy and Player Updates
This morning, the Kings conducted an optional skate prior to their game. Head coach Todd McLellan has not confirmed the starting goaltender. Should Darcy Kuemper take the net, his past performance against the Blues is promising; he has a record of 11-6-1 against them with a .916 save percentage. If Anton Forsberg starts instead, he has faced the Blues four times, achieving a save percentage of .885.
- Projected Kings Lineup:
- Kempe – Laferriere – Perry
- Foegele – Byfield – Armia
- Fiala – Turcotte – Kuzmenko
- Malott – Helenius – Ward
- Anderson – Doughty
- Edmundson – Clarke
- Dumoulin – Ceci
- Goaltending: Kuemper or Forsberg
Drew Doughty will return to the lineup after missing a previous game due to illness. Anze Kopitar and Trevor Moore are also traveling with the team but are on injured reserve and require activation in order to play.
Blues’ Current Status and Challenges
The St. Louis Blues enter this game after a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, marking their third consecutive defeat. The team is dealing with injuries, including their leading scorer, Robert Thomas, who is sidelined with a lower-body issue. Other injured forwards include Pius Suter and Mathieu Joseph. Justin Faulk is a notable player on the current roster, having scored 11 goals this season, which places him sixth among NHL defensemen.
Implications of the Upcoming Road Trip
This road trip is vital for the Kings, as it could significantly impact their standings. Darcy Kuemper acknowledges the importance of winning these games, especially as they approach the midpoint of the season. The Kings aim to repeat their earlier road success, where they achieved an impressive record of 4-0-1 in October and 4-1-0 in November.
However, they must seize opportunities effectively. Previous meetings against teams missing key players have not favored the Kings, leading to losses. The Kings are determined to capitalize this time against a struggling Blues team.
Penalty Kill Adjustments and Performance
The Kings have recently made adjustments to their penalty kill strategy. In their last game, they showcased a successful 5-on-3 kill, thanks to strategic plays from Anton Forsberg and strong defensive performances by Mikey Anderson and Cody Ceci. Despite some struggles earlier in the season, the Kings have not allowed a power-play goal in their last three games.
Ceci emphasized the need for confidence in their play, highlighting the focus on aggressive defense rather than a passive approach. Changes in defensive pairings may help strengthen their penalty-killing units.
As the Kings prepare for this matchup against the Blues, the stage is set for a potentially crucial game in determining their trajectory this season.
