Kings Wrap Up Road Trip in Carolina with Momentum and Milestones on Their Side
The Los Angeles Kings are closing out a lengthy East Coast swing on Sunday with a matinee matchup against one of the NHL’s top teams, the Carolina Hurricanes. It’s been a productive trip so far - LA has gone 3-1-0 - and with the Olympic break looming, a win in Raleigh would be a strong statement heading into the pause.
Now, on paper, this looks like a tough spot. It’s the second half of a back-to-back, and Carolina doesn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for visiting teams.
But here’s the twist: the Kings have actually fared better in the second game of back-to-backs this season. Just one of many quirks in what’s been a rollercoaster of a year for LA.
Byfield Steps Up in Philly
Saturday’s game against the Flyers followed a familiar script - a fast start, a lead that slipped away, and yet another trip to overtime. But this time, Quinton Byfield decided he’d had enough of the déjà vu. The young forward called his own number and buried the game-winner in OT, lifting the Kings to a 3-2 win.
It was a reminder of what Byfield is capable of when he plays with confidence and assertiveness. If he can tap into that gear more consistently, the goals - and the breakout season many have been waiting on - could follow in bunches.
Expected Lineup: Forsberg Gets the Net
With the team playing on back-to-back days, Anton Forsberg is expected to get the start in goal. Beyond that, there’s a bit of lineup fluidity.
Warren Foegele was scratched for the second time recently, and rookie Kenny Connors is still waiting to make his NHL debut. Either could draw in if head coach Jim Hiller wants to shuffle the bottom six.
Here’s how the Kings are projected to line up against the Hurricanes:
Forwards
Moore - Kopitar - Armia
Perry - Laferriere - Kempe
Fiala - Byfield - Kuzmenko
Malott - Helenius - Ward
Defense
Anderson - Doughty
Edmundson - Clarke
Dumoulin - Ceci
Goaltenders
Forsberg (starter)
Kuemper
Scratches (likely): Connors, Foegele, Moverare
Injured Reserve: Turcotte
Kings Riding Hot Hands and Historic Marks
There’s no shortage of strong individual performances fueling LA’s recent success:
- Kevin Fiala has been a thorn in Carolina’s side. He tallied two goals in the Kings’ last visit to Raleigh - exactly one year ago - and now has nine points in his last six games against the Canes.
- Trevor Moore has made a habit of finding the net against Carolina, riding a five-game goal streak against them dating back to October 2023.
- Adrian Kempe is quietly putting together another strong campaign. His two first-period goals in Philly extended both his road and overall point streaks to six games. With 20 goals on the season, Kempe now owns five straight 20-goal campaigns - tied for the seventh-longest such streak in franchise history.
- Drew Doughty added another line to his Hall of Fame résumé, becoming the first defenseman (and eighth player overall) in Kings history to reach 700 career points. His assist in Philadelphia was his 11th of the season and a milestone moment for a player who’s been the backbone of LA’s blue line for over a decade.
Scouting the Hurricanes
Carolina enters Sunday’s game coming off a 4-3 loss to Washington. Here’s how they lined up in that one:
Forwards
Svechnikov - Aho - Jarvis
Hall - Stankoven - Blake
Ehlers - Staal - Martinook
Carrier - Jankowski - Kotkaniemi
Defense
Slavin - Chatfield
Miller - Walker
Gostisbehere - Nikishin
Goaltender
Bussi
This is a deep team with speed, skill, and structure - a real test for a Kings squad looking to finish strong before the break.
How to Watch
Puck drop is scheduled for 12:00 PM Pacific Time. The game will be televised on FanDuel Sports, with radio coverage available through the ESPN LA app.
Kings Flashback: A Coaching Milestone
On this day in 1992, Tom Webster became the fastest coach in Kings history to reach 100 wins, doing it in just 211 games with a 2-0 shutout over the Blackhawks. That record’s since been surpassed, but it’s a reminder of the franchise’s rich coaching lineage - and the kind of consistency that’s always been the goal in LA.
Final Word
The Kings are playing with confidence, leaning on their stars, and getting timely contributions from across the lineup. A win in Carolina would cap off a strong road trip and send them into the Olympic break with momentum - and maybe a little swagger too.