Kempe’s Status Uncertain, Armia Out: Impact on Home Games and Defense
The Los Angeles Kings host the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday night. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. Pacific at Crypto.com Arena. This is Game 68 of the 2025-26 regular season.
The Kings enter at 28-24-15. The Flyers are 32-23-12. The Kings just returned from a five-game road trip. They collected seven of a possible ten points on that swing.
Kings lineup and goaltending
Los Angeles held a full-team morning skate at the Toyota Sports Performance Center. Darcy Kuemper is expected to start in goal after coming off the ice early following the skate.
Kuemper started when these teams met in Philadelphia earlier this season. He stopped 19 of 21 shots in a 3-2 overtime Kings victory. That marked his fifth win in ten career appearances versus the Flyers.
Projected forward lines skated today included Artemi Panarin with Anze Kopitar and Mathieu Joseph. Quinton Byfield and Blake Laferriere skated together. Jeff Malott centered a line with Joel Ward and Teemu Helenius.
Defensive pairings listed were Drew Doughty with Kevin Anderson and Joel Edmundson with Brandt Clarke. Jacob Moverare remains an option off the bench.
Key player statuses
Adrian Kempe is a game-time decision. He missed Monday’s game in New York with a lower-body injury and did not skate this morning.
Kempe played a role in the January overtime win over Philadelphia. He had the primary assist on Quinton Byfield’s game-winner and finished with three points in that matchup.
Kempe’s Status Uncertain tonight, yet he brings offensive firepower. He enters on an eight-game point streak and projects to a roughly 30-goal, 70-point pace.
Armia update
Joel Armia skated in a full-contact jersey at practice. He will not play tonight.
Armia Out for this game, but the club called today’s session a positive step. A return Saturday against Buffalo depends on tomorrow’s practice participation.
Flyers condition and notes
Philadelphia plays on a back-to-back. The Flyers beat Anaheim 3-2 in overtime Wednesday night at Honda Center.
Travis Konecny led the first meeting between these teams with a goal and an assist. He tops the Flyers this season with 24 goals, 32 assists and 56 points. That marks his fifth straight season leading the club in scoring.
Reported forward groupings in Anaheim included Konecny, Zegras and Tippett in key roles. Philadelphia will be a speed and transition test for the Kings tonight.
Standings, schedule and home concerns
The Kings sit tied for the final Western Conference playoff spot. They are currently behind on a tiebreaker.
With 15 games left, tonight’s result matters. A win would move Los Angeles into playoff position, depending on an earlier Seattle-Nashville outcome. The team needs victories, not just points.
Los Angeles plays nine of its final 15 games at Crypto.com Arena. The club has just ten home wins this season. Only Vancouver and New York have fewer home victories.
Filmogaz.com sources note the Kings see a major Impact on Home Games with these upcoming dates. A seven-game homestand begins March 28. That stretch could define the final playoff push.
Defense and recent trends
Since the coaching change, the Kings’ play has opened up. Goals against at 5-on-5 rose from 2.1 to 2.5 per 60 minutes.
However, high-danger chances against have decreased. The team moved from 10.8 to 9.8 high-danger chances allowed per 60 minutes.
Coaching staff credit improved forward coverage and fewer odd-man rushes. That has helped reduce the most dangerous scoring chances. Defense remains a focus as the schedule tightens.
How to follow
Television coverage is on FanDuel Sports Network. Radio coverage is on ESPN LA 710 and the ESPN LA app. The LA Kings app also carries audio. Follow team updates on Twitter at @dooleylak and @lakings.
Puck drop at 7:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. Expect a game-time decision on Kempe, and monitor Armia’s progress for the weekend.
