The Los Angeles Kings are set to face off against the St. Louis Blues in what could be a pivotal match for their season. This game marks the beginning of a six-game road trip for the Kings, who currently hold a record of 20 wins, 16 losses, and 13 overtime losses. Conversely, the Blues enter the game with a 19-24-8 record.
Game Details
- Date: Saturday, January 24
- Time: 5:00 PM Pacific
- Location: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
- Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network, KCAL, ESPN LA App, LA Kings App
- Twitter Updates: @dooleylak & @lakings
Matchup Preview
This matchup is crucial for both teams, especially since the Kings are striving to improve their standings as they head into this challenging stretch of games. In their last encounter in St. Louis back in October, Kings forward Adrian Kempe was instrumental, scoring a game-winning goal in overtime for a narrow 2-1 victory.
Kempe has been particularly effective against the Blues, netting seven goals against them since the start of the 2022-23 season, making him one of the top scorers in the league against St. Louis.
Kings Roster Updates
The Kings conducted an optional morning skate ahead of the game. There is uncertainty about the starting goaltender. Darcy Kuemper, who has a strong track record against the Blues with an 11-6-1 career record, may return. He has a .916 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average against St. Louis.
If Kuemper is unavailable, Anton Forsberg will likely take the role. He has played four games against the Blues, with a .885 save percentage in those matchups.
Projected Lineup
- Kempe – Laferriere – Perry
- Foegele – Byfield – Armia
- Fiala – Turcotte – Kuzmenko
- Malott – Helenius – Ward
- Anderson – Doughty
- Edmundson – Clarke
- Dumoulin – Ceci
- Goaltenders: Kuemper / Forsberg
St. Louis Blues Conditions
The Blues return home after a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, marking three consecutive defeats for the team. They are currently missing their leading scorer, Robert Thomas, who is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Additionally, forwards Pius Suter and Mathieu Joseph are also sidelined, putting extra pressure on their lineup.
Key Players and Strategies
The Kings must capitalize on their opportunities, especially considering St. Louis’s challenges with injuries. The Kings have struggled to maintain consistency but aim to build on their previous victory against the Rangers. This road trip is seen as potentially transformative for the team’s trajectory this season.
In terms of strategy, the Kings’ penalty kill has been a concern. They have made adjustments in their defensive pairings and have shown improvement, having gone three consecutive games without allowing a power-play goal.
Looking Ahead
The Kings recognize the importance of this road trip, emphasizing the need for focus and resilience. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper spoke about the significance of capitalizing on upcoming games as they approach the season’s second half.
As the Kings commence this important journey in St. Louis, all eyes will be on their ability to seize this opportunity.
