The Kings are back home for the start of a seven-game stretch in downtown Los Angeles, and Thursday’s matchup with Ottawa feels like one of those games that can tell you a little something about where this team is headed. A road trip that started with promise ended at 3-2-0, and the latest detour came Tuesday in Chicago, where the Kings took a loss that snapped some of the good feeling they had built over the previous 48 hours.
That setback has pushed a few questions to the front again, especially around the offense. Kevin Fiala is still not ready to play, though his return to the ice is a positive sign.
He has been skating on his own for a while, and there is at least some quiet optimism that he could make his season debut during this homestand. For now, though, he remains out, even after being spotted in a red no-contact jersey.
The bigger immediate issue for head coach Peter Laviolette is figuring out how to squeeze more production out of a lineup that has too often gone quiet. In more than half of the Kings’ games this season, they’ve managed just one goal. That kind of scoring rate leaves little margin for error, and it puts extra weight on every lineup decision.
Health is still part of the picture elsewhere, too. Drew Doughty sat out against Chicago after blocking a shot the night before, while Quinton Byfield returned to the lineup in that game but did not look like himself. With Alex Turcotte and Mats Zuccarello still on injured reserve, availability matters as much as anything right now.
One reinforcement is on the way from AHL Ontario. Martin Chromiak has been recalled and is expected to draw in tonight.
The 24-year-old Slovakian-born forward has six goals in nine games with the Reign this season and was named AHL Player of the Week just a few days ago. He also signed a two-year contract extension over the summer.
Jared Wright was sent back to Ontario, and under the new CBA rules he’ll need to play at least one AHL game before being eligible for another recall.
The projected Kings lineup has Arthur Panarin, Alex Laferriere and Adrian Kempe together on the top line, with Trevor Moore centering Byfield and Chromiak. The third line is slated to feature Joel Armia, Sean Laughton and Nico Haula, while Alex Lee, Jack Helenius and Trevor Ward are penciled in on the fourth unit.
On defense, Brandt Clarke is paired with Andreas Gustafsson, Brian Dumoulin with Drew Edmundson, and Drew Anderson with Dumoulin. Darcy Kuemper is projected to start, with Anton Forsberg backing him up.
Likely scratches are Perry and Ceci, with Fiala, Turcotte and Zuccarello on injured reserve.
Ottawa, meanwhile, arrives after a 4-1 loss to Vegas on Tuesday. The Senators’ projected top six includes Zetterlund, Stützle and Giroux on the first line, with Foegele, Cozens and Batherson on the second.
Greig, Pinto and Amadio are expected to form the third line, and Cousins, Halliday and Burakovsky are listed on the fourth. On defense, Sanderson and Zub are paired together, followed by Kleven with Spence and Matinpalo with Yakemchuk.
Johansson is projected in goal.
There’s also a few numbers that stand out heading into the game. Brandt Clarke scored the power-play winner the last time the Kings hosted his hometown Senators on Nov.
24, 2025. Artemi Panarin carries a 10-game point streak against Ottawa dating back to Dec.
2, 2022. The Kings are 9-0-3 in their last 12 games against the Senators, a run that dates to Nov. 7, 2019, and they’ve won five of their last six meetings in downtown Los Angeles, including the last three.
Thursday also marks a milestone for Brian Dumoulin, who is set to play in his 800th NHL game at Crypto.com Arena. That would make him the 12th active U.S.-born defenseman to reach that number.
Anton Forsberg, for his part, owns a perfect 3-0-0 career record against his former team. His 1.30 goals-against average against Ottawa is the best among active netminders, his .949 save percentage is fourth-best, and he has also logged one assist and one shutout in those three games.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm Pacific Time. The game will air locally on ABTV and can also be streamed on DAZN. A Kings radio feed is available on the ESPN LA app.
In Other News...
Reign Head Home Needing Answers After Another Flat Night
Another uneven night left the Ontario Reign without much to build on, as Henderson controlled the game long enough to pull away for a 4-1 win. Ontario did get on the board through Aatu Jmsen, but the goal was little more than a brief spark in a game where the Reign spent too much time chasing, and Carter George was busy throughout while trying to keep the score manageable.
George turned aside 28 shots, while Pavel Moysevich handled 25 for Henderson as the Silver Knights stayed in charge and finished the job with an empty-net goal from Alexander Holtz. For Ontario, the result leaves more questions than answers as the club heads home after another flat showing and tries to sort out what has been missing. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Bottom Six Shakeup Could Reveal Laviolette's Early Plan
Peter Laviolette is already making early-season tweaks to the Kings bottom six, a sign that the coaching staff is still sorting out which depth forwards can hold up at the NHL level. Jared Wright, who played in three of the Kings four games since his recall, was sent back to the Ontario Reign as the club continues to juggle its forward group and look for the right mix down the lineup.
In his place, Martin Chromiak gets the next look on the NHL roster after building momentum in the AHL and standing out offensively there. He has yet to make his NHL debut, but the Kings are clearly willing to reward production and keep testing options as Laviolette evaluates his depth players in the opening stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Loss Put A Bigger Blackhawks Problem Back In Focus
A recent win over the Kings offered the Blackhawks a much-needed jolt, but it did not do much to change the larger picture around a team still sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings. Chicago has been trying to hold things together without Connor Bedard, and the skid has only sharpened the questions around how this group is being put together and how much progress is actually being made.
Derek Blashills system has come under scrutiny as the losses pile up, and the power play has only added to the frustration. If the offense continues to sputter and the overall results do not improve, Chicago may have to start thinking about bigger changes behind the bench rather than treating this as a short-term rough patch. [Read more 🡒]