The Los Angeles Kings (11-6-7) are set to take on the Vancouver Canucks (10-13-2) in an exciting matchup tonight at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game marks the 25th of the regular season for both teams and serves as the beginning of a four-game homestand for the Kings, a significant stretch in their season.
Tonight’s game showcases a compelling head-to-head battle, particularly with Kings forward Kevin Fiala, who has performed impressively against the Canucks since joining the team in 2022, recording eight points (4 goals and 4 assists) in just eight games against them. Notably, teammate Alex Turcotte, fresh off scoring his first goal of the season in Anaheim, also holds a solid track record against Vancouver with three points (1 goal and 2 assists) in three games last season.
After a challenging game against the Anaheim Ducks, where the Kings fought back but ultimately fell in a shootout, the team is looking to return to winning form. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who was in net yesterday, holds an impressive record against the Canucks with 14 wins and a .922 save percentage over his career. If Anton Forsberg starts tonight, he has also performed well this season, earning points in five of his seven starts despite lacking a win against Vancouver.
Vancouver enters tonight’s matchup with momentum, looking to improve after securing only two wins in their last nine games. The Canucks feature forward Brock Boeser, who has been notably successful against the Kings with 17 goals in 23 games since 2016, including a strong power-play performance.
Head coach Jim Hiller has emphasized the need for the Kings to capitalize on their strong play from the previous outing, despite the frustrating loss. The Kings typically perform well in close games, having frequently come back from multi-goal deficits this season, which lends them confidence as they prepare for tonight’s matchup.
Looking ahead, the Kings are keen to harness the positive aspects of their recent performance and translate that into a win on their home ice. As the season progresses, maintaining their position at the top of the division will be crucial, making tonight’s game a pivotal opportunity to secure important points and regain momentum.
Injury updates indicate that forward Warren Foegele remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury and won’t be playing tonight, while Drew Doughty is also still recovering and skated independently this morning.
With both teams eager to establish themselves in the standings, fans can expect a thrilling contest as the Kings face off against the Canucks this evening.