Kings-Blue Jackets Postponed Due to Historic Snowstorm in Columbus: What It Means for L.A.’s Road Trip and Goalie Rotation
The Los Angeles Kings were set to face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night at Nationwide Arena, but Mother Nature had other plans. A record-setting winter storm dumped roughly a foot of snow across central Ohio, forcing the NHL to postpone the matchup. The game has been rescheduled for March 9, with puck drop time still to be determined.
This was supposed to be the Kings’ 51st game of the season, coming off back-to-back wins, including a shootout victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, were looking to regroup on home ice, but now both teams will have to wait-and potentially look very different-by the time they meet again. The new date lands just three days after the NHL trade deadline, meaning rosters could shift significantly before that makeup game is played.
For Los Angeles, the postponement isn’t just a scheduling hiccup-it reshapes their entire road trip and throws a curveball into coach Jim Hiller’s goaltending plans. Originally, this was set to be the second leg of a back-to-back, with the Kings heading to Detroit to take on the high-flying Red Wings on Tuesday. That game is still on, but now without the Columbus game preceding it, the Kings have a bit more breathing room.
That extra day off could mean Anton Forsberg gets a rest, with Darcy Kuemper potentially handling the crease in Detroit. Hiller had likely mapped out a rotation to split the starts, but with the back-to-back no longer in play, he may opt to ride the hot hand-or keep things flexible depending on how the team performs against a Red Wings squad currently leading the Atlantic Division and sitting third overall in the NHL standings.
The postponement also trims the Kings’ current road trip from six games down to five. It started Saturday in St.
Louis and was scheduled to continue through Columbus, Detroit, and beyond. Now, the trip ends a little sooner than expected, but the March 9 reschedule adds a twist down the line.
What was originally a three-game road swing in early March now becomes a four-gamer, with the Columbus matchup kicking off a back-to-back that includes a visit to Boston to play the Bruins.
And it doesn’t stop there. That week in March is shaping up to be a grind for the Kings.
After the Columbus-Boston back-to-back, they’ll face another two-in-two set with games against the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils. That’s four games in six nights, all on the road, right after the trade deadline.
Not exactly a cakewalk.
So while Monday night’s game in Columbus won’t happen as planned, its ripple effects are already being felt. From goalie usage to travel logistics to potential trade deadline implications, the Kings’ season just got a little more complicated-and a lot more interesting.