LA Kings vs. Ducks: A Deep Dive into Tonight’s Matchup
Hockey fans, get ready for an exciting clash between the LA Kings and the Anaheim Ducks! This article provides a comprehensive overview of projected lineups, crucial injury reports, and the latest updates as of today. We’ll break down the expected player formations for both teams, keeping you informed about who’s in, who’s out, and who’s a game-time decision.
Ducks Projected Lineup
The Ducks are gearing up with a lineup that looks like this:
- Forwards: Chris Kreider — Mason McTavish — Ryan Strome; Alex Killorn — Mikael Granlund — Beckett Sennecke; Cutter Gauthier — Ryan Poehling — Troy Terry; Ross Johnston — Tim Washe — Jansen Harkins
- Defensemen: Jackson LaCombe — Jacob Trouba; Olen Zellweger — Radko Gudas; Pavel Mintyukov — Drew Helleson
- Goalies: Lukas Dostal, Ville Husso
Scratched: Ian Moore, Jeffrey Viel
Injured: Frank Vatrano (fractured shoulder), Petr Mrazek (lower body), Leo Carlsson (lower body)
Kings Projected Lineup
The Kings are responding with the following projected lineup:
- Forwards: Jeff Malott — Alex Laferriere — Adrian Kempe; Warren Foegele — Quinton Byfield — Joel Armia; Kevin Fiala — Alex Turcotte — Andrei Kuzmenko; Andre Lee — Samuel Helenius — Taylor Ward
- Defensemen: Mikey Anderson — Drew Doughty; Joel Edmundson — Brandt Clarke; Brian Dumoulin — Cody Ceci
- Goalies: Darcy Kuemper, Anton Forsberg
Scratched: Corey Perry, Jacob Moverare
Injured: Anze Kopitar (upper body), Trevor Moore (upper body)
Key Injury Updates & Game Day News
Several key players are dealing with injuries, impacting both teams’ strategies. Here’s the latest:
- Troy Terry (Ducks): Will return to the lineup after missing three games due to an upper-body injury.
- Cutter Gauthier (Ducks): Back in action after sitting out a 3-1 win against the Dallas Stars due to illness.
- Chris Kreider (Ducks): Missed the morning skate with an illness and is a game-time decision. Anaheim is prepared to insert Ian Moore as a seventh defenseman if Kreider is unable to play.
- Leo Carlsson (Ducks): Will miss his second consecutive game; his status will be updated shortly.
- Joel Armia (Kings): Returns after a five-game absence due to a lower-body injury.
- Anze Kopitar & Trevor Moore (Kings): Remain sidelined with upper-body injuries.
The Ducks recently acquired Jeffrey Viel from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Additionally, Nikita Nesterenko has been assigned to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League.
Where to Watch
Catch all the action on FDSNW, Victory+, KCOP-13, SNE (JIP), SNP, SNW, and SNO. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
For more in-depth NHL coverage, visit NHL.com.
