Capitals vs. Kings: Projected Lineups, Key Notes Ahead of Late-Night Clash in L.A.
The Washington Capitals are rolling into Los Angeles for a late-night showdown with the Kings at Crypto.com Arena, and both teams are bringing some intriguing lineup dynamics into this one. Puck drop is set for 10:30 p.m. ET, and while it’s a West Coast start, there’s plenty worth staying up for-especially with two squads that are still tinkering and adjusting as the season takes shape.
Let’s break down the projected lineups and what to watch for on both sides of the ice.
Capitals Projected Lineup
Forwards:
- Anthony Beauvillier - Dylan Strome - Alex Ovechkin
- Aliaksei Protas - Justin Sourdif - Tom Wilson
- Brandon Duhaime - Connor McMichael - Ryan Leonard
- Sonny Milano - Hendrix Lapierre - Ethen Frank
Defense:
- Martin Fehervary - John Carlson
- Jakob Chychrun - Matt Roy
- Rasmus Sandin - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Goaltenders:
- Logan Thompson
- Charlie Lindgren
Scratches: Declan Chisholm, Dylan McIlrath, Bogdan Trineyev
Injured: Nic Dowd (upper body), Pierre-Luc Dubois (lower body)
Status Report:
Washington isn’t expected to make any changes from the lineup that earned them a convincing 4-1 win over the Islanders on Sunday. That continuity makes sense-this group looked sharp, and there’s no need to fix what isn’t broken.
One of the bigger storylines quietly brewing in D.C. is the play of Jakob Chychrun. The defenseman has been steadily building his case for a spot on Team Canada, and nights like this-on the road, against a skilled Kings forward group-are the kind of proving grounds that national team selectors keep an eye on.
Kings Projected Lineup
Forwards:
- Joel Armia - Quinton Byfield - Kevin Fiala
- Trevor Moore - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe
- Alex Laferriere - Phillip Danault - Andrei Kuzmenko
- Jeff Malott - Alex Turcotte - Corey Perry
Defense:
- Mikey Anderson - Joel Edmundson
- Brian Dumoulin - Brandt Clarke
- Jacob Moverare - Cody Ceci
Goaltenders:
- Darcy Kuemper
- Anton Forsberg
Scratched: Samuel Helenius
Injured: Warren Foegele (upper body)
Status Report:
The Kings come into this one fresh off a 2-1 overtime win against Vancouver, and they’re continuing to experiment with their top-nine forward group. Saturday’s game saw some noticeable line shuffling, and it looks like they’ll stick with those combinations-at least for now.
Warren Foegele, who’s been sidelined with an upper-body injury, did skate in a non-contact jersey on Tuesday. That’s a good sign for his recovery, but he’ll miss his third straight game tonight.
What to Watch
There’s no shortage of intriguing matchups here. Ovechkin is still the gravitational force on the Capitals’ top line, and with Dylan Strome continuing to find chemistry as a playmaker, that trio could be dangerous against a Kings defense that’s still looking to settle into a rhythm.
On the other side, Quinton Byfield centering the top line with Kevin Fiala gives L.A. a blend of size and speed that can create problems in transition. And don’t sleep on the second line-Kopitar and Kempe have long been one of the league’s more underappreciated duos, and Trevor Moore adds a layer of grit and pace.
In net, Logan Thompson is expected to start for Washington, with Charlie Lindgren backing up. For the Kings, Darcy Kuemper should get the nod, though Anton Forsberg remains an option.
This East-meets-West matchup has the feel of a quietly compelling December game-two teams with playoff aspirations, both managing injuries and lineup tweaks, both trying to find the right mix as the season grinds on. Whether it’s Chychrun’s continued push for international recognition, or the Kings’ evolving forward corps, there’s plenty of hockey substance to dig into tonight in L.A.