Kings Seek Victory Over Wild to Halt Losing Streak
The Los Angeles Kings are in dire need of a victory to end their current losing streak. They recently suffered a defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning, with a score of 5-3. The Kings have not achieved back-to-back wins since early December.
Kings’ Performance Struggles
This season has been challenging for the Kings. They last celebrated consecutive victories on December 6 and 8, defeating the Blackhawks and Mammoth. In contrast, the Minnesota Wild have excelled recently, bolstered by a trades that brought Quinn Hughes to their roster.
Wild’s Recent Success
The Wild are currently riding high after a decisive 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. They will face off against the Kings for the second time in two days. Their current form showcases their offensive capabilities.
Projected Lineups
Both teams are making adjustments to their lineups ahead of their matchup.
Kings’ Lineup
- Alex Laferriere – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
- Warren Foegele – Quinton Byfield – Joel Armia
- Kevin Fiala – Alex Turcotte – Andrei Kuzmenko
- Jeff Malott – Samuel Helenius – Corey Perry
- Mikey Anderson – Drew Doughty
- Joel Edmundson – Brandt Clarke
- Brian Dumoulin – Cody Ceci
- Goalies: Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg
Wild’s Lineup
- Kirill Kaprizov – Danila Yurov – Mats Zuccarello
- Marcus Johansson – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy
- Vladimir Tarasenko – Ryan Hartman – Vinnie Hinostroza
- Marcus Foligno – Nico Sturm – Yakov Trenin
- Quinn Hughes – Brock Faber
- Jonas Brodin – Jared Spurgeon
- Jake Middleton – Zach Bogosian
- Goalies: Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson
Injuries and Sabotaging Performance
The Kings will miss Trevor Moore due to illness, necessitating Jeff Malott’s position in the lineup. Both teams are looking to their goalies to perform at their best. The Kings are relying on Darcy Kuemper while the Wild may start Jesper Wallstedt, fresh off a win.
Key Factors for the Matchup
Scoring will be crucial in this contest. The Wild have a robust average of 3.12 goals per game, while the Kings lag significantly at 2.59 goals. On the power play front, Los Angeles ranks 31st with a conversion rate of 15.7%. In contrast, Minnesota stands in 9th place with an efficient 22.6% power play success.
Kings’ Offensive Challenges
Despite strong goaltending and defense, the Kings’ offense has faltered this season. Adrian Kempe remains the standout performer with over 30 points, while only two players have surpassed 20 points. Quinton Byfield, struggling since early December, plays a pivotal role in igniting the team’s offense.
Playoff Implications
The Kings find themselves two points away from a potential wild card spot. With their current form, they risk missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-2021 season. A win against the Wild could be crucial for altering their trajectory.
As the teams prepare to clash, all eyes will be on whether the Kings can turn around their fortunes against a formidable Wild squad. The matchup promises to be critical for both the standings and team morale.
