Kings Preview: Crew Methods, Byfield’s Mindset, and Malott’s Return

TODAY’S MATCHUP: The Kings are again dwelling for simply the one sport, as they host the Calgary Flames this night in a Pacific Division matchup.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: All through his profession in opposition to Calgary, ahead Anze Kopitar has scored 10 power-play objectives, tied for his highest whole in opposition to anyone opponent. In whole, Kopitar has scored 21 profession objectives versus the Flames, tied for his fifth-most in opposition to a staff. He additionally leads the Kings with seven factors (1-6-7) during the last two seasons in head-to-head matchups with Calgary.

KINGS VITALS: The Kings held an elective morning skate right now in El Segundo, following a full-team follow yesterday afternoon.

After goaltender Anton Forsberg obtained the nod on Wednesday in Seattle, search for goaltender Darcy Kuemper to be again in web tonight in opposition to the Flames, after he didn’t skate this morning. Kuemper has excellent profession splits versus Calgary, with an 8-3-1 report, a .950 save proportion and a 1.75 goals-against common.

Right here’s how the Kings lined up in Seattle, with no lineup adjustments anticipated for tonight’s sport –

Tonight’s @LAKings Line Rushes –

Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
Fiala – Byfield – Armia
Foegele – Danault – Moore
Malott – Turcotte – Perry

Anderson – Doughty
Edmundson – Clarke
Dumoulin – Ceci

Forsberg
Kuemper

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) December 11, 2025

As famous, similar group because the Kings had in opposition to Seattle on Wednesday. Ought to any adjustments be wanted, forwards Andrei Kuzmenko and Samuel Helenius, together with defenseman Jacob Moverare, are choices to examine into the lineup.

FLAMES VITALS: After a sluggish begin to the season, Calgary has posted a report of 7-3-1 over its final 11 video games to climb again inside 5 factors of a playoff spot within the Western Convention.

Per Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960, right here’s how the Flames lined up throughout follow yesterday –

#Flames at follow Friday:

Huberdeau-Frost-Coronato
Sharangovich-Kadri-Farabee
Zary-Backlund-Coleman
Lomberg-Beecher-Klapka
Hunt

Bahl-Andersson
Kuznetsov-Weegar
Hanley-Brzustewicz
Pachal

— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) December 12, 2025

Since he was acquired by Calgary in 2022, Huberdeau leads the Flames with 5 objectives in 10 matchups in opposition to the Kings, whereas amassing eight factors in whole in that stretch. All through his complete profession, Huberdeau is a point-per-game participant in opposition to the Kings, with 25 factors (9-16-25) from 25 video games performed.

Storyline Of The Day –
“Let’s see if we will put some collectively. We haven’t had that string at any level within the season, actually, the place we’ve actually strung them collectively and felt good in addition to that one highway journey. We haven’t used the house ice benefit to try this additionally, so we’re searching for that, and I imagine that’s going to occur sooner or later. I’d prefer it to occur sooner reasonably than later however I imagine we’re going to rattle off 5 or 6 in a row.”

I believed Jim Hiller’s media availability yesterday had numerous good hockey dialog in it. Some bigger-picture issues, each Kings and NHL associated, and this quote above was one which caught out to me.

The response was to a query about whether or not the loss to Chicago final week, which was maybe the worst sport the Kings have performed up to now this season, could possibly be much like the loss the Kings had final yr in San Jose, which was most likely the worst sport of final yr. That loss was adopted by six-straight wins for the Kings, which was the beginning of round six nice weeks of hockey, when the Kings went 13-2-2.

The apparent a part of the reply, which was mentioned all through just a few questions, was that we simply don’t know but. He’d prefer it to be, actually, however you don’t often acknowledge it till after the very fact.

“Let’s hope we’re speaking about this in every week from at times we’ll be glad,” Hiller added. “Three video games after the San Jose sport, we most likely had been speaking about how we’d gained two or three since then, that it was the turning level. It took a while to string three good weeks collectively, to say, now, when you take a look at it, possibly that was what we would have liked. It’s simply too early proper now to evaluate that.”

To date, the Kings are 2-0-1 since that loss. The wins over Chicago and Utah had been good performances. The extra time loss to Seattle was a type of uncommon video games that the Kings ought to have gained, as a result of they led 2-1 inside the ultimate 30 seconds of regulation, however additionally they most likely shouldn’t have been main 2-1 within the first place. Nonetheless, it’s 5 of six factors since that sport, with Calgary developing at dwelling earlier than three extra on the highway.

I’m undecided if that loss was as highly effective because the one in San Jose. And, as famous, we gained’t know till we glance again. However there’s one other a part of Hiller’s reply that stood out to me. The Kings need to get it going at dwelling.

4-6-3 at dwelling has the Kings ranked thirtieth within the NHL in each successful proportion and whole factors at dwelling. 2.15 objectives per/sport at house is thirty first. 12 of their subsequent 19 video games are at dwelling. It’s time to show that report round.

Final outing at Crypto.com Area, the Kings scored six objectives. The six objectives had been a season-high for the Kings at dwelling and essentially the most they’ve scored in any sport this season that’s resulted in regulation, dwelling or highway. At dwelling, although, they’d but to attain greater than three.

There have been two highway video games in between, however does that imply the sensation of the win over Chicago disappears? In some methods, I feel it’s nonetheless there and maybe one thing to attempt to hold going.

“No motive for us to be down, we should always really feel good,” Hiller added. “Let’s see if we will carry that momentum again onto dwelling ice.”

Likelihood to maintain that dwelling momentum rolling right here tonight.

Certain, there’s an opportunity they go to Dallas, Florida and Tampa Bay and rattle off three wins. Nevertheless it’s condensed journey in opposition to three good groups, with a back-to-back. That’s a troublesome, robust journey. However popping out of it, the Kings play seven of eight at dwelling, with some winnable video games in there. Tonight’s sport isn’t included in that blend, nevertheless it’s an opportunity to begin to get some dwelling momentum rolling.

3 To Watch For –
– Two notes right here on Quinton Byfield.

First, sharing this quote from Jim Hiller from earlier right now.

“Him and I talked yesterday, I feel a shot mentality, let’s begin with that. Getting across the web is part of it too, however I feel the shot mentality, yesterday in follow, he scored objectives, it was good to see, he compelled the goalie to make some saves when usually he may search for Kevin, that yet one more play. In follow, he didn’t do this yesterday. I feel you’re going to see him shoot extra. Generally, it takes the participant to get to the purpose the place, sufficient. I feel he’s there. I feel you’re going to see him extra direct.”

I’d prefer to see that mentality in harmful areas with the shot and down the wing, utilizing his distinctive mixture of measurement and velocity to get to the online. Glad to see that being mentioned.

Secondly, I observed Byfield on the ice nicely after yesterday’s follow ended, engaged on faceoffs particularly.

He’s not the one participant in that boat – Alex Turcotte and Alex Laferriere routinely do the identical factor, with Laferriere concerned yesterday as nicely. However for Byfield, it was an prolonged session with Jarret Stoll, who’s the group’s typical coach on the subject of that particular space of the sport.

Byfield pointed to some issues which are necessary in that space as for what he was engaged on.

“It’s repetition, attempting to get as many reps you possibly can,” he stated. “Going in opposition to numerous totally different guys, totally different strategies, linesmen, how they drop it, typically getting kicked out. It’s not simply so simple as drop the puck, do that. There’s quite a bit that goes into it, so I’m attempting to maintain getting higher at that.”

He referred to Stoll as an enormous useful resource for him. Stoll was over 55 p.c in his NHL profession, the most effective marks in NHL historical past. Good man to study from. Phillip Danault talked previously about what Yanic Perreault did for his profession and he’s been a plus faceoff man yearly with the Kings. Stoll has lengthy labored with facilities within the group to enhance in that space and with Byfield at present at 41 p.c, there’s room to work on his sport in that space.

Good to see him placing within the work in just a few methods to get to the place he’s able to being.

– An fascinating quirk of the schedule this season has been a scarcity of follow time.

For a participant like Jeff Malott, who has been out and in of the lineup, with that comes the added problem of staying able to go with out a ton of aggressive conditions, even in practices, with which to take action.

“It’s been an adjustment for positive,” Malott stated. “I feel again to what we’ve been speaking about, the extra easy you possibly can hold it, the extra predictable you will be, the better it’s to get again into the groove of the sport. When you’ve type of obtained your legs underneath you within the sport, then you definitely begin to see what’s there. Simply staying prepared and attempting to maintain it easy out of the gate and construct some momentum early is unquestionably what helps essentially the most.”

Malott is a participant who performs inside himself. He’s obtained a like-mindset to Turcotte, even with totally different abilities. Skates decently for his measurement, performs with physicality and likes to get in on the forecheck.

That line, with him, Turcotte and Corey Perry appears to be efficient most instances they’re collectively and so they ship the type of sport you’d really need from a fourth line, which is enjoying within the offensive finish, offering power and a spark.

“I feel early on this yr, we noticed that’s what was working for us and giving us some sustained time within the o-zone,” he stated of that line’s forechecking skills. “It’s far more enjoyable to be enjoying down there. I feel only a matter of seeing it work early and attempting to do as a lot as we will.”

– Lastly, anticipating a tough matchup tonight in opposition to Calgary.

The Kings misplaced all three video games in opposition to the Flames final season and have misplaced 5 of six and 9 of 14 in whole in opposition to Calgary. The one sport in Los Angeles was a throwaway sport in April, a 5-1 Flames victory because the Kings rested a number of regulars. The video games in Calgary, although, had been low-scoring defeats. All the time confirmed to be a troublesome sport in opposition to a hardworking staff, particularly one that’s enjoying considerably higher hockey as of late.

“It’s not essentially who you play, however while you play them and Calgary is de facto enjoying fairly nicely proper now,” Hiller stated. “They struggled somewhat bit earlier within the season, for no matter causes, however obtained issues going and now we’re seeing them play some good hockey.”

Kings must ship a great efficiency to get the 2 factors.

Kings and Flames, a brief stint right here at dwelling earlier than the staff returns to the highway for a three-game journey. An excellent alternative to financial institution a pair factors for the aircraft!