The Kings are riding a bit of a heater right now, and they’ll look to keep that momentum rolling tonight in Buffalo against one of the NHL’s hottest teams. It’s a big test, no doubt - but one that comes at a pretty intriguing time for Los Angeles.
Let’s be honest: the Kings haven’t exactly made Crypto.com Arena a fortress this season. Home ice has been shaky at best.
But on the road? That’s where things are starting to click.
Under interim head coach Jim Hiller, this team has looked sharper, more cohesive, and - perhaps most importantly - more confident away from L.A. And a big part of that recent uptick in form?
Look no further than the fourth line.
Sammy Helenius, Jeff Malott, and Taylor Ward might not be household names just yet, but they’re quickly becoming difference-makers. Fans of the AHL’s Ontario Reign have seen this trio do damage before, and now they’re doing it at the NHL level.
They’ve brought energy, physicality, and - maybe most surprisingly - offense. That line’s been buzzing, and Hiller’s rewarded them with more ice time.
The only downside? Their strong play is making it tough to shuffle the lineup without messing with the chemistry.
And that chemistry is going to be tested soon.
Kenny Connors is waiting in the wings, and while his NHL debut was penciled in for Philadelphia - just 20 miles from his hometown - that plan may be on hold depending on how the Kings continue to perform. Add in the looming return of Anze Kopitar, who’s back skating and looks close to rejoining the lineup, and suddenly the forward group gets a lot more crowded.
Managing minutes and roles is about to get tricky, especially at center. For now, though, the Kings are sticking with what’s working - and what’s working is heading into Buffalo with a lineup that’s finally found some rhythm.
By the Numbers
- Helenius and Malott are both riding three-game point streaks - the longest of their NHL careers - heading into tonight’s matchup. Ward’s chipped in goals in two of his last three games, dating back to January 20 against the Rangers. That’s a fourth line producing like a second.
- Joel Armia has a bit of a personal history with Buffalo. He was drafted 16th overall by the Sabres back in 2011 but never suited up for a regular-season home game with the team. That hasn’t stopped him from lighting it up at KeyBank Center: he’s got five goals and nine points in 11 career games there.
- Andrei Kuzmenko continues to be a weapon on the man advantage. His power-play goal Tuesday in Detroit was his sixth of the season, leading the team. It also happened to be his third game-winner of the year - second only to Adrian Kempe, who leads the Kings with five.
- Alex Laferriere is quietly becoming one of L.A.’s most reliable road scorers. He’s tallied two goals and four points in his last four away games, and his eight goals and 15 points on the road rank second and third on the team, respectively.
Projected Kings Lineup vs. Sabres
Forwards
Perry - Laferriere - Kempe
Moore - Byfield - Foegele
Fiala - Armia - Kuzmenko
Malott - Helenius - Ward
Defense
Anderson - Doughty
Edmundson - Clarke
Dumoulin - Ceci
Goaltenders
Kuemper (starter)
Forsberg
Scratches (expected): F Kenny Connors, D Jacob Moverare
Injured: Alex Turcotte (out indefinitely)
Injured Reserve: Anze Kopitar
If there are any last-minute changes during warmups, the lineup will be adjusted accordingly.
How to Watch
Puck drops at 4:00 PM Pacific Time. The game will be televised on FanDuel Sports, and the Kings radio broadcast is available via the ESPN LA app. With ongoing shifts in the sports broadcasting landscape, there have been some recent updates regarding FanDuel’s coverage - especially how contract changes around the league could impact the Kings’ remaining schedule.
Across the Ice
Buffalo is coming off a statement win - a 7-4 offensive outburst against Toronto on Tuesday. They’re rolling, and here’s how they lined up in that game:
Forwards
Benson - Thompson - Tuch
Zucker - McLeod - Quinn
Doan - Ostlund - Helenius
Kozak - Krebs - Malenstyn
Defense
Samuelsson - Dahlin
Byram - Power
Metsa - Kesselring
Goaltender
Pekka Luukkonen
The Sabres are fast, skilled, and confident. The Kings will need to bring their best version of that road-game swagger to keep pace.
On This Day in Kings History
January 29, 2017: The Kings hosted the NHL All-Star Game at STAPLES Center. Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty represented L.A. as part of the Pacific Division squad, which reached the All-Star Final before falling 4-3 to the Metropolitan Division. Former King Wayne Simmonds took home MVP honors that day - a reminder of how deep the Kings’ alumni tree runs.
Tonight’s matchup in Buffalo isn’t just another road game - it’s a measuring stick. The Kings are trending in the right direction, but the Sabres are red-hot. If L.A. can keep the fourth line rolling, get timely contributions from their top guys, and continue their road-warrior mentality, they’ve got a shot to keep this streak alive.
Let’s see if they can rise to the occasion.