The Kings wasted little time setting the tone in Game 2 of the 2026 Rookie Faceoff, and Koehn Ziemmer made sure it showed on the scoreboard.
Los Angeles jumped in front of Anaheim 1-0 on Sunday at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, with Ziemmer finishing off a sharp setup from Michael Mastrodominico at 10:29 of the opening frame. The goal came off a quick release to the top shelf after Mastrodominico sprung him loose with a stretch pass.
Early on, the Kings looked energized after the previous day’s game. Brzustewicz had one of the first real looks for Los Angeles, driving down the right side before sending his chance high. The legs were there for plenty of the Kings’ skaters, especially several who were also in action on Saturday.
Jack Hughes, wearing the “A” in Game 2, was also noticeable in the early going. His game was built more on quick, useful plays than anything flashy, but he was consistently involved and making things happen in smart spots.
Jared Wright added another burst of speed to the Kings’ start. He was easily the fastest skater on the ice, won a race from several strides back to get a breakaway, and was turned aside on the backhand.
Los Angeles rolled out this lineup for the matchup:
Vojtech Cihar - Kenny Connors - Jared Wright
Jack Hughes - Jimmy Lombardi - Liam Lefebvre
Kenta Isogai - Grant Slukynsky - Koehn Ziemmer
Jan Chovan - Kaleb Lawrence - Elias Schneider
Jared Woolley - Michael Mastrodomenico
Nate Corbet - Giorgos Pantelas
Lucas Ambrosio - Henry Brzustewicz
Hampton Slukynsky
Carter George
In Other News...
Kings Prospect Liam Lefebvre Just Showed The Edge They Want
A weekend in San Jose gave Liam Lefebvre exactly the kind of early pro test the Kings have been looking for from one of their younger prospects. The 19-year-old stepped into two games and showed a little of everything, including a fight in the first one and a much more noticeable offensive impact in the second, when he scored twice and helped tilt the tone of the night.
Between games, Lefebvre talked about the adjustments the group made, pointing to a tighter approach in its own end and a more assertive mentality when it came to getting pucks on goal. He also noted how much faster the game feels compared with junior hockey, and how valuable it is to learn through the coaching staff and the pace of these early opportunities, even with the bigger questions around how quickly that edge can translate. [Read more 🡒]
Koehn Ziemmer Is Giving Kings Fans A Reason To Pay Attention
Koehn Ziemmer has quietly become one of the more interesting names in the Kings prospect pool as he heads into the 2026 Rookie Faceoff, a setting that tends to sort out who is ready to take a step and who still needs more runway. The forward talked through his first two games in the tournament, his growth since his first professional season and the way he used the summer to sharpen his game, all while trying to show he can handle the daily grind that comes with this level.
Ziemmer also touched on the group dynamic around the rookie camp and the challenge of playing several games in a short span, which can test both legs and focus. For a young player trying to make an impression, that matters almost as much as the box score, and it gives the Kings a closer look at how he carries himself when the schedule tightens and the competition starts to stack up. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Rookies Deliver The Response Fans Needed Against Anaheim
The rookie group gave the Kings exactly the kind of answer they were looking for against Anaheim at the 2026 Rookie Faceoff. Los Angeles rolled to a 4-1 win, with the offense finding its rhythm after a steady opening stretch and the young forwards giving the team a cleaner, sharper look than the scoreboard alone might suggest.
The early damage came from Koehn Ziemmer, who helped set the tone for the Kings, while Liam Lefebvre put the game out of reach with a big third period. Anaheims only response came from Lucas Pettersson, but the finish belonged to Los Angeles and left the Kings with a positive note from a rivalry matchup that mattered for more than just the final score. [Read more 🡒]