The Los Angeles Kings are set to face the Dallas Stars in a pivotal matchup as part of their five-game road trip. This game, scheduled for Thursday, October 23, at 6:00 PM Pacific time, will take place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. After a recent victory over the St. Louis Blues, the Kings are looking to gain momentum against the Stars, who have experienced mixed results in their recent games.
Matchup Overview: Kings vs. Stars
The Kings (2-3-2) travel to Dallas (3-3-0), hoping to capitalize on their previous win. Historically, the Kings have struggled in Dallas but managed to win two of the three matchups last season, both victories occurring on home ice. Forward Warren Foegele was a standout performer in those games, leading the Kings with four points (3 goals, 1 assist) against the Stars. Foegele also boasts six career goals versus Dallas, marking it as one of his more successful matchups outside the Pacific Division.
Kings’ Lineup and Player Updates
The Kings are expected to retain their lineup from the recent win in St. Louis. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made a strong return, stopping 17 of 18 shots. He holds a record of 9-7-3 against the Stars with a .910 save percentage. Notably, forward Anze Kopitar remains sidelined due to a foot injury. Although he has participated in full-contact practices, he is unlikely to play tonight.
- Projected Kings Lineup:
- Kuzmenko – Laferriere – Kempe
- Fiala – Byfield – Armia
- Foegele – Danault – Moore
- Malott – Turcotte – Perry
- Dumoulin – Doughty
- Edmundson – Clarke
- Anderson – Ceci
Stars’ Current Performance
The Stars started the season strong with three consecutive wins but have since fallen to three straight losses, including a significant 5-1 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Forward Mikko Rantanen is leading the team with seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) and has been particularly effective against the Kings over the past few seasons.
- Projected Stars Lineup:
- Seguin – Hintz – Rantanen
- Robertson – Johnston – Bourque
- Hryckowian – Steel – Blackwell
- Erne – Faksa – Bastian
- Lindell – Heiskanen
- Harley – Lyubushkin
- Bishel – Petrovic
Key Themes and Challenges
This matchup is crucial for the Kings, who have struggled to find their footing in the early season. With only one regulation win to their name and a number of teams vying for playoff positioning, the pressure is on to improve their standing. Kings head coach Jim Hiller emphasized the need for a consistent approach throughout the road trip, particularly against tough teams like Dallas.
The Kings’ power play is another area to watch. Currently, they are performing at a rate of 26.3 percent, ranking among the top in the NHL. However, they average fewer opportunities per game compared to other teams, highlighting the importance of drawing penalties.
Finally, a procedural update comes with goaltender Pheonix Copley clearing waivers and being assigned to the AHL’s Ontario Reign. With Kuemper back in action, this move is expected as the Kings manage their roster for the season ahead.
As the Kings gear up for this critical contest against the Stars, they remain focused on building a winning momentum and establishing a stronger identity moving forward in the season.
