Buckle up, Kings fans – after a heart-wrenching defeat that felt like a punch to the gut, can the Los Angeles Kings transform their simmering anger into a fiery comeback? Tonight marks the start of a crucial stretch, and with Trevor Moore sidelined and Jeff Malott stepping in, the team's power play continues to shine. Dive into the latest from LA Kings Insider as we gear up for their clash with the Minnesota Wild.
WHO: Los Angeles Kings (16-14-9) vs. Minnesota Wild (25-10-7)
WHAT: 2025 Regular-Season Game 40/82
WHEN: Saturday, January 3 @ 6:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: FanDuel Sports Network – AUDIO – ESPN LA App & LA Kings App – TWITTER: @dooleylak (http://twitter.com/dooleylak) & @lakings (http://twitter.com/lakings)
TODAY’S MATCHUP: The Kings kick off a pair of back-to-back games against the Minnesota Wild right here at home in Crypto.com Arena.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: In their recent encounter in Minnesota back in October, the Kings shone thanks to solid multi-point performances from Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield. Byfield, in particular, has been a standout, racking up four points (two goals and two assists) in his last four matchups with the Wild, and boasts a career plus-nine rating in ten games against them, topping all Kings players since 2021. Looking at the past five seasons, Kempe leads the team with seven goals and 14 points overall in these head-to-head battles.
KINGS VITALS: After a team-wide practice session yesterday, the Kings opted for an optional morning skate at the Toyota Sports Performance Center today.
Darcy Kuemper is slated to start in goal once again, facing the team that originally selected him in the 2011 draft. He even made his NHL debut with Minnesota in 2012. Against the Wild, Kuemper holds a career record of 5-7-2, complete with a .904 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average.
Expect the same roster lineup for the Kings tonight, as Head Coach Jim Hiller confirmed this morning –
Tonight's @LAKings (https://twitter.com/LAKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Line Rushes –
Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
Foegele – Byfield – Armia
Fiala – Turcotte – Kuzmenko
Malott – Helenius – Perry
Anderson – Doughty
Edmundson – Clarke
Dumoulin – Ceci
Kuemper
Forsberg
As mentioned, Trevor Moore will be absent tonight due to illness.
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) January 1, 2026 (https://twitter.com/DooleyLAK/status/2006873176572309898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Hiller further noted that Trevor Moore won't be rejoining the lineup tonight, having also missed Thursday's game. It seemed like he might be ready yesterday, but he's still under the weather, so he'll sit this one out. Consequently, anticipate Jeff Malott holding his position, while Moore and defenseman Jacob Moverare are both unavailable for action.
WILD VITALS: The Wild are wrapping up a back-to-back series after securing a 5-2 victory over Anaheim last night.
Here's how they lined up in their previous game against the Ducks –
Wild lines vs Ducks:
Kaprizov – Yurov -Zuccarello
Johansson -Eriksson Ek – Boldy
Tarasenko -Hartman -Hinostroza
Foligno – Sturm – Trenin
Hughes -Faber
Brodin – Spurgeon
Middleton – Bogosian
Gustavsson
Wallstedt
Injured: Hunt
Scratched: Jones, Kierstad, Pitlick#mnwild (https://twitter.com/hashtag/mnwild?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
— 32 Hockey Updates (@32HockeyUpdates) January 2, 2026 (https://twitter.com/32HockeyUpdates/status/2007195681191276944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Forward Vladimir Tarasenko paced the Wild with a pair of assists in their earlier meeting in Minnesota this season. Having played for four different squads, Tarasenko has amassed eight assists and 10 points in his last eight encounters with Los Angeles. The Kings will also face defenseman Quinn Hughes for the first time as a Wild player tonight. Hughes brings 18 career points (three goals and 15 assists) from 19 games played against the Kings.
Storyline Of The Day – Where Do We Go From Here
Picture this: the Kings suffered what might just be their most painful setback of the entire season in their last outing. It was widely acknowledged as a low point.
“Coming out on the losing end like that was simply unacceptable.”
“We handed it over at the finish.”
“That was a game we absolutely needed to secure.”
Head Coach Jim Hiller expressed that the team was more disappointed than ever after a game this year. And rightfully so – the frustration lingered in the locker room, palpable both immediately following the match and during the next day's practice. With a 3-2 lead inside the final four minutes, the Kings walked away empty-handed. Conceding goals just 1:38 apart flipped the script from 3-2 in their favor to 4-3 against. It unfolded so rapidly, like a nightmare you couldn't escape. In mere 98 seconds, a solid performance up to that point devolved into one of the ugliest losses the Kings have faced. Just 98 seconds separated a potential statement victory from total devastation.
Of course, there have been more disastrous 60-minute efforts overall. In the grand scheme, the Kings played decently on Thursday. But that's precisely why this defeat against Tampa Bay stung even harder. The team now sits at 2-6-2 in their last ten games. Losing when you've performed well – especially blowing it late like the Kings did – is incredibly tough to swallow.
“It was a contest we really ought to have clinched,” forward Adrian Kempe remarked. “The whole squad was irritated that it slipped through our fingers. Leading 3-2, that's one you have to seal. Emerging with a loss here is just not acceptable.”
This setback has stirred a whirlwind of feelings for the Kings. Hearing Kempe, usually a more composed figure, label it as unacceptable is unusual. This group takes pride in clinching tight, one-goal affairs. They failed to do so versus the Lightning.
Inside the locker room, the prevailing moods were rage and irritation.
“We're not angry at each other; we're just collectively frustrated,” defenseman Brandt Clarke explained. “We let that happen to us. Everybody's eager to progress further. Everyone wants to reach the heights we know we're capable of. I'm pumped for tonight. I'm thrilled about what the team will demonstrate.”
Clarke's response prompts a key question that's been swirling in my mind.
It's natural to feel furious, exasperated, let down – call it what you will – after such a game. They have every right to be. In another comment, Clarke echoed Kempe's sentiment, describing it as unacceptable. The Kings recognize it was a terrible outcome to endure.
But here's where it gets controversial – the real challenge is channeling that energy. Do you dwell on the defeat and risk more losses, or harness those intense emotions to steer the team back on track?
“It boils down to picking yourself up, striving to improve, and not letting it consume you,” Hiller advised. “We've all fallen into that trap at some point. Shake it off as best you can. It starts with each individual, and that ultimately fortifies the group.”
Let me tell you, the Kings had better master this quickly, because glancing at the current standings highlights how fragile their position has become.
In a team huddle yesterday, Hiller discussed their standings situation. They don't often delve into that territory – the players are usually aware – but presently, the Kings are beneath a threshold they haven't dipped below recently. Hiller kept the details vague, but any notions of “We're still in a playoff berth” should be dismissed.
As tonight's puck drops, the Kings are peering into the playoff picture from outside. They're trailing the wild card by a full two points, four behind third in the Pacific Division, and five from the division's top spot. Now, those gaps aren't insurmountable – a solid weekend could reverse them. But what should raise alarms is that they're just one point ahead of 13th in the Western Conference. One rough weekend, and suddenly five teams stand between you and that wild card. By squandering opportunities against manageable opponents in recent weeks, the Kings have maneuvered themselves into a spot where victories over elite teams – like these upcoming matchups with Minnesota – are now essential. It's time to perform, with little room for excuses if they don't.
And this is the part most people miss – how a team's mental resilience, or lack thereof, can make or break a season. For beginners in hockey, think of the playoffs like a tournament bracket; you need to accumulate points to qualify, and slipping outside that bubble means watching from the sidelines, which no team wants.
3 To Watch For –
– Amid the recent struggles, one glimmer of hope has been the power play unit. For those new to hockey, a power play is when a team gains an extra player due to an opponent's penalty, creating a numerical advantage to score.
The Kings have netted a power-play goal in each of their last three games, including two against Tampa Bay on Thursday. All four of those goals originated from the unit featuring Brandt Clarke at the point (the back position for defensemen), Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko on the wings, and Corey Perry and Quinton Byfield down low near the goal.
“That particular group is truly threatening; they're gaining confidence, and when that happens, great things follow,” Hiller observed. “They're all contributing now. For me, they began by passing the puck effectively, achieved some successes, and built upon them. We must get our other unit into a similar groove, but this one is dominating and will continue to lead for now.”
This quintet appears to have perfected their roles, consistently translating that into goals.
“We possess strong skills across the board; we understand Perrs camps out at the net, Q excels down low, and Fiala, Kuzmenko, and I handle the top,” Clarke noted. “We can strike from either flank, we're directing shots on goal, snatching loose pucks, and executing properly……we simply need to sustain this momentum.”
A few games ago, the Kings made significant adjustments with a clear directive – produce points, and you'll see ice time. This unit has outperformed the other 4-0 in the last three matches, earning the majority of power-play minutes. Against the Lightning, they played nearly twice as long and tallied twice. As long as they keep scoring, they'll retain that privilege.
– Trevor Moore's absence provides another earned opportunity for Jeff Malott to suit up.
“We've been truly pleased with his contributions,” Hiller stated about Malott. “From the preseason onward – actually, tracing back to the end of last year – he displayed some flair, drew attention, and had an excellent preseason. He's fulfilled every request, and it's just been challenging to slot him in regularly. He's a valuable asset.”
The current hurdle is that the Kings have only four centers available. You could potentially rearrange by shifting Alex Laferriere to center, but that would disrupt established lines. Nonetheless, Malott has earned his playing time. While this spot opens due to Moore's illness and unavailability, Malott deserves it and will get another shot tonight.
But here's where it gets controversial – is relying on a rookie like Malott the right move, or should the team prioritize veterans? Fans often debate player rotations in sports like this, especially when injuries strike.
– Finally, a quick update on the World Juniors.
Six Kings prospects made it to the quarterfinals, with four advancing to the semifinals.
Forward Vojtech Cihar has been the standout among Kings talents, currently tied for the tournament's assist leader with seven. He added two more assists in Czechia's victory over Switzerland, propelling his team to tomorrow's semifinals.
Through the quarterfinals, @LAKings (https://twitter.com/LAKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) prospect Vojtech Cihar now leads the World Juniors with seven assists. One shy of the tournament lead in points as well!
Czechia has two games left, kicking off with a semifinal against Canada tomorrow. https://t.co/3Zfh1CYP8f pic.twitter.com/z8ZX6fiWco (https://t.co/z8ZX6fiWco)
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) January 3, 2026 (https://twitter.com/DooleyLAK/status/2007510935603425493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Goaltender Petteri Rimpinen progressed with a stellar netminding performance for Finland, ousting the United States, while Canadians Liam Greentree and Carter George also moved forward, albeit without playing in the win over Slovakia.
The tournament concluded for forwards Brendan McMorrow and Jan Chovan. McMorrow impressed with four points (one goal and three assists) in five games, whereas Chovan notched his first tournament goal in yesterday's loss to Canada.
Semifinals take place tomorrow, culminating in the gold and bronze-medal games on Monday evening.
Kings versus Wild, the opener of two encounters over the next three evenings. Face-off at 6 PM in downtown Los Angeles.
Do you believe the Kings can turn their recent frustrations into a winning streak, or is the standings pressure too much to overcome? And what do you think about keeping Malott in the lineup – a bold strategy or a risky gamble? Share your opinions in the comments below; I'd love to hear differing viewpoints!
