The Kings’ morning skate on Friday brought a little more clarity on two injured forwards and a lot of interest in one line that may be forcing its way into staying power.
With Pittsburgh up next on Saturday night, Los Angeles used its final practice before the game to get a look at a full group: 16 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. After the win over San Jose on Wednesday and a day off Thursday, this was the last real tune-up before the Penguins arrive.
The most notable sighting came with Alex Turcotte, who appeared to be working more regularly with the Laughton and Lee group than anyone else. On the first rep, Turcotte was on the wing with Laughton and Lee, and he stayed involved in that mix throughout practice. He remains on injured reserve, but Peter Laviolette said his status has moved from week-to-week to day-to-day.
“Turc is probably more day-to-day and Kevin’s probably a little bit further than that,” Laviolette said. “Again, both guys are out there in regular jerseys, no restrictions and competing the way that they are, getting involved, is nothing but positive for our team. They’re both important players, so to get them back will be a boost for us.”
Kevin Fiala was also out there, but Turcotte seemed to be the more active presence in those rotations. Mats Zuccarello got some work in as well, though he remains week-to-week.
The sense from practice was that Turcotte and Fiala are both being watched closely, with a possible return somewhere on this homestand. Whether that means Saturday, Tuesday or later is still unclear.
One line that did look locked in was Erik Haula between Kenny Connors and Joel Armia. That trio stayed together in practice, and after what they did against San Jose, it’s easy to see why.
Laviolette was impressed with them too.
“I really liked the Connors line the other night, with Haula and Armia. I thought they had some big responsibilities in the d-zone against a certain line and I thought that they handled it really well.”
The numbers backed that up. Against the Sharks, that line finished with an 11-6 edge in shot attempts, a 6-2 advantage in scoring chances and a 4-1 edge in high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick.
They also came out 2-0 in goals, including one against Macklin Celebrini. Haula logged 9:52 at 5-on-5, with 7:19 of that coming against Celebrini, and the Kings came out ahead in that matchup.
It’s not a combination that would have jumped off the page in September, but it has a logic to it now. Haula and Armia already know each other well from the Finnish National Team, where they played together in the bottom six at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and also worked together on the penalty kill.
Armia finished that tournament tied for fourth in scoring. Both are responsible two-way forwards who can chip in offense without making a scene about it, and both have looked stronger on this homestand after slower starts.
Connors fits the same mold in his own way. He’s earned trust at every level, and Ontario Reign head coach Andrew Lord has spoken highly of what he brings to the minor-league club.
He doesn’t play like a highlight reel, but he has speed, skill and enough versatility to handle different situations. Put him with Haula and Armia, and the fit starts to make sense.
Laviolette made it clear he liked what he saw.
“That line was excellent in the role that they were given [on Wednesday],” Laviolette added. “They executed and to get the points on top of that, is a big night.
They chipped in goals and took on a lot of the head-to-head with Celebrini and his line. I thought they just did a really good job”
Given the way they played and the way Laviolette spoke about them, it would be a surprise if that trio gets broken up against Pittsburgh. The Kings want a matchup line when they can get one, but they also want two lines that can drive offense.
That second scoring group has been missing, and that remains an issue. Fiala could help solve it when he returns, but the Kings will be careful not to overload him when he’s back.
For now, Haula, Connors and Armia look like the right answer.
The Penguins come in on the back end of a demanding 3-in-4, with games Thursday at home, then Saturday against the Kings and Sunday against the Ducks. It’s an unusual stretch, split between the Eastern and Pacific time zones, and it gives Los Angeles a chance to take advantage and build some momentum.
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