Are the LA Kings finally turning a corner after a season of frustrating inconsistency? Tonight's game against the Minnesota Wild is a crucial test, but more importantly, it's a chance to see if their revamped power play can continue its recent surge. But here's where it gets controversial... can a few good games really erase months of struggles, or is this just a temporary blip?
WHO: Los Angeles Kings (17-14-9) vs. Minnesota Wild (25-10-8)
WHAT: Game 41 of 82 in the 2025 Regular Season
WHEN: Monday, January 5th @ 7:30 PM Pacific Time
WHERE: Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW:
- VIDEO: FanDuel Sports Network
- AUDIO: ESPN LA 710, ESPN LA App & LA Kings App
- TWITTER: @dooleylak & @lakings
Tonight's Showdown: The Kings wrap up their two-game set against the Wild at home, riding the momentum of Saturday's thrilling 5-4 shootout victory. Can they repeat their success, or will the Wild come back with a vengeance?
Head-to-Head Highlights: Quinton Byfield is proving to be a thorn in the Wild's side. He notched a goal and an assist on Saturday, marking his second multi-point performance against Minnesota this season. He's been on a hot streak lately, with two multi-point games in his last four and currently sits third on the Kings with 23 points. Adrian Kempe also found the back of the net on Saturday, continuing his dominance against the Wild. Kempe actually leads all Pacific Division players with a whopping eight goals against Minnesota over the past five seasons. Talk about a Wild killer!
Kings' Vital Signs: After a much-needed day off, the Kings held a full-team morning skate at Toyota Sports Performance Center. The big news? Goaltender Darcy Kuemper was the first off the ice, strongly indicating he'll be between the pipes tonight against the Wild. Kuemper secured his sixth career win against Minnesota on Saturday, and historically, he holds a 6-7-2 record with a .901 save percentage and a 2.84 goals-against average against them. Can he continue his winning ways?
Projected Kings Lineup (based on morning skate):
Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
Foegele – Byfield – Armia
Fiala – Turcotte – Kuzmenko
Malott – Helenius – Perry
Anderson – Doughty
Edmundson – Clarke
Dumoulin – Ceci
Kuemper
Forsberg
Unfortunately, it looks like Trevor Moore will miss his third consecutive game. He skated this morning, but didn't participate in line rushes and stayed out for extra work, suggesting he's still not quite ready. The word is he's "close," so hopefully, we'll see him back on the ice soon. Jacob Moverare could be an option if the Kings decide to make any additional changes to the lineup.
Wild's Vital Signs: Minnesota has been on a tear lately, suffering only one regulation loss in their last 14 games. Their shootout loss to the Kings on Saturday barely dents their impressive 10-1-3 record during that span. They're hungry for a win and will be looking to exploit any weaknesses in the Kings' game.
Minnesota's Projected Lineup (per Michael Russo of The Athletic):
Kaprizov-Yurov-Zuccarello
Johansson-Eriksson Ek-Boldy
Tarasenko-Hartman-Hinostroza
Foligno-Sturm-Trenin
Hughes-Pitlick
Brodin-Spurgeon
Middleton-Kiersted
Gustavsson expected to start
Matt Boldy has been a consistent threat against the Kings, scoring in both games against them this season. That goal was his 26th of the season which ranks second in the NHL behind Nathan MacKinnon. Despite not skating this morning, defenseman Brock Faber is expected to play tonight. Faber, a former LA draft pick (2020), had a goal and assist on Saturday. Both Boldy and Faber are set to represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics. A couple of players to watch closely!
Storyline of the Day: Power-Play Progress
Let's be honest, the Kings' power play has been a major disappointment for most of the season. The numbers have been consistently underwhelming, and fans have every right to be frustrated. But... are we finally seeing a glimmer of hope? Corey Perry's power-play goal against Minnesota on Saturday marked the fourth consecutive game with a man-advantage goal – a feat the Kings haven't achieved since late last season (Games 77-81). And this is the part most people miss... It's not just that they're scoring, it's how they're scoring. The 92/55/22/96/10 unit is clicking, responsible for all five goals during this streak. Is this a flash in the pan, or a sign of things to come?
Since the holiday break, the Kings shifted their approach, moving away from a rigid PP1/PP2 structure and rewarding the unit that produces. As coach Jim Hiller put it, "The unit that scores is the unit that will play." Since Byfield's goal against Anaheim, the top unit (featuring Perry, Byfield, Fiala, Kuzmenko, and Clarke) has averaged significantly more ice time (6:36 per player) compared to the other unit (5:24). Hiller is sticking to his word, giving the hot hand the opportunity to shine. But will this meritocratic approach continue to pay dividends?
So, what's the secret to their recent success?
According to the players, it's all about the right mix of skillsets and clearly defined roles. Clarke highlighted Perry's net-front presence, Byfield's puck-retrieval abilities, and the dynamic playmaking of Fiala and Kuzmenko on the flanks. The Kings are using a right-side overload with Byfield and Fiala moving around to create space, leading to Byfield moving up higher while Fiala remained on the right side, down low, to create a numbers advantage. This allows Perry to play where he is most effective, in and around the net.
While four games is a small sample size, the Kings' power play has been remarkably efficient since the break, ranking third in the NHL at 38.5%. They're also averaging an impressive 4.0 goals per game during this stretch. Can they maintain this level of production? Only time will tell, but the early signs are encouraging.
3 Things to Watch For:
- Cleaning Up the Rush: While the Kings' offense was firing on all cylinders against Minnesota on Saturday, there's still room for improvement defensively. Hiller emphasized the need to limit rush opportunities, particularly against the Wild's active defensemen like Faber and Hughes. He specifically mentioned the importance of the F3 (the third forward back) tracking those defensemen coming up ice to prevent odd man rushes. Minnesota's third goal was a prime example of this, with Faber activating off the rush. Can the Kings tighten up their defensive game and limit the Wild's scoring chances?
- "Difficult Conversations": Alex Turcotte's comments about the team having "difficult conversations" are intriguing. He suggested that the Kings realized they weren't playing up to their potential and that falling out of a playoff spot was a wake-up call. This meeting on Friday seems to have addressed some underlying issues and created a more positive mindset within the team. Could these "difficult conversations" be the catalyst for a sustained turnaround? It’s possible these conversations were about accountability, systems, or even individual player performance. What do you think these conversations were about?
- LA Kings Insider Suite Night: A quick reminder for Insiders! The LA Kings Insider Suite Night is coming up on January 14th. There are still a few spots remaining to watch the game against Vegas from the Sky Box. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact zdooley@lakings.com or visit the provided link.
Final Thoughts: The Kings and Wild conclude their season series tonight. Los Angeles holds a 1-0-1 record and will be looking to secure the series victory. Will they rise to the occasion, or will the Wild spoil the party? What do you think? Are the Kings making real progress, or is this just a temporary hot streak? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
