Nhl Schedule: Panarin to debut for Kings against Golden Knights
Artemi Panarin is set to make his Los Angeles debut when the Kings host the Vegas Golden Knights at 10: 00 p. m. ET, a game that figures prominently on the nhl schedule as the Kings chase a wild-card berth. Panarin, acquired Feb. 4, arrives as Los Angeles's leading scorer with 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) in 52 games, and his debut comes with the Kings sitting 3 points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the second Western Conference wild-card spot.
Nhl Schedule: Panarin debuts at 10 p. m. ET
The nhl schedule lists this matchup at 10: 00 p. m. ET, and the Kings have signaled they will insert Panarin into their top-six forward group immediately. Los Angeles (23-19-14) practiced a Panarin–Laferriere–Kempe line ahead of the game, and Adrian Kempe — back from the Winter Olympics in Milan — skated with Panarin during line rushes and power-play work at the Toyota Sports Performance Center.
Kempe’s return and the on-ice fit with Panarin
Adrian Kempe said he has been preparing to mesh with Panarin, and he watched video of Panarin and players who have succeeded alongside him; Kempe called Panarin “one of the most skilled players in the league. ” Kempe added that skating together in practice “felt good, ” and the Kings specifically ran the Panarin–Laferriere–Kempe unit on the power play during the morning skate. Kempe’s first day back on the ice was noted as the first time he and Panarin worked in the same practice group before tomorrow’s game against Vegas.
Vegas absences and Kings roster notes for the game
The Golden Knights (27-16-4) will be without Team USA Olympians Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin for the game, while the statuses of Team Canada players Mitch Marner, Mark Stone and Shea Theodore are to be determined. The Kings will also be without forward Kevin Fiala, who suffered a fractured lower left leg playing for Team Switzerland in a 5-1 loss to Team Canada at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Feb. 13; Fiala had 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) this season. Los Angeles expects other Olympic returnees — Darcy Kuemper, Joel Armia and Drew Doughty — to be available, with Kuemper back in Los Angeles and Doughty scheduled to arrive in time for the game.
Coaches used today’s session to finalize special-teams work and try the Panarin line in game-like situations, with the Kings describing the skate as their last bit of preparation before a 26-game sprint to the finish. Panarin, 34, joins a Kings lineup that needs scoring punch, and his 57 points this season lead the team’s incoming additions.
The next confirmed event on the slate is the Kings hosting the Golden Knights tomorrow evening at Crypto. com Arena, scheduled for a 10: 00 p. m. ET puck drop; that game will be followed later in the night by other matchups already listed on the nhl schedule.
